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Thanksgiving Events in San Francisco 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in San Francisco with festive dinners, brunches, buffets, Turkey Trots, parades, family-friendly activities, Friendsgiving parties, holiday markets, volunteer opportunities, food drives, cruises, and seasonal events. Whether you're planning a traditional Thanksgiving feast or looking for unique things to do, discover the best Thanksgiving events happening in San Francisco.

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You’re warmly invited

to

ThanksgivingDinner

Date
Thursday, November 26
Time
4:00 PM

“Come hungry and bring your stories. There’s always room at our table.”

With love,Your name

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Curated by the AllEvents team, for you

Top Thanksgiving events in San Francisco

All Thanksgiving events in San Francisco 2026

On now

Nov 1–81680 Bryant St, Palo Alto8 days

Fall Tango Series for Beginners, 6 Sundays in Palo Alto

✨ FALL TANGO SERIES • FOR BEGINNERS ✨ Six Sundays at Feeling Flow · Palo Alto Discover Argentine tango: an embrace, a shared rhythm, and a conversation without words. Karn, partnered by Shirin, invite you to a playful, progressive introduction to connec

2:00 PM

Thu, Nov 5Sunset Commons

November Scrap & Yap - A Very Peanuts Friendsgiving

Happy start of the Thanksgiving Season! Bust out your junk journals, your recent memories, and enjoy some crafting with the community! Welcome to SF Scrap & Yap!

6:30 PM

$41.32Friendsgiving

Sat, Nov 7Aegis & Auto Pro Detailing, Dublin

Carsgiving Car Show

Calling all Porsche owners and enthusiasts! � Join us for CARSGIVING, a Thanksgiving Car Show celebrating the passion, style, and community behind exotic cars. Come see an amazing lineup of Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other exotic cars. Bring

11:00 AM

Sat, Nov 7Third Street Boxing Gym

Thanksgiving Throwdown 2026

Get ready for an unforgettable holiday clash as elite fighters step into the ring at the Thanksgiving Throwdown! This high-stakes showdown brings together top amateur talent from across the region. This act

12:00 PM

$33.85 – $76.54

Sat, Nov 74048 Sonoma Hwy, Napa

Pie Workshop

PIE WORKSHOP Every Saturday leading up to Thanksgiving | 3 PM $85 per person Get ready for Thanksgiving with a hands-on pie-making workshop at Carneros. Each class focuses on a different seasonal favorite, with step-by-step guidance through preparing th

3:00 PM

Sat, Nov 7The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunnyvale

🍁 Thanksgiving Gathering for Single Adults 36+ 🍂

🍁 Thanksgiving Gathering 🍂 Single Adults 36+ are welcome to join us for a casual evening of faith, fun, and fellowhip on Saturday, November 7 from 5-8pm at 771 E Fremont Ave. in Sunnyvale, CA 94087. Bring a side 🥗 dish or dessert 🧁 to share. And sign-up f

5:00 PM

Sun, Nov 8Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Oakland

The Blessed & Thankful Experience

An uplifting afternoon of gospel music, worship and thanksgiving! Free admission, donations appreciated. VIP experience available. THE BLESSED & THANKFUL EXPERIENCE Join Deanne Brewer

3:00 PM

Free – $44.52VolunteerLive music

Tue, Nov 10Kolping Center

Queen's Hive Thanksgiving Arrangement Workshop

Join the Queen’s Hive for a guided Thanksgiving Arrangement Workshop! Get creative, enjoy a relaxing activity, and connect with other women! Join us for a lovely evening of creativity, conversation, and con

6:00 PM

$15

Thu, Nov 125201 Great America Pkwy #138, Santa Clara

Thanksgiving & Diwali Potluck Celebration

Our Thanksgiving & Diwali Potluck brought KW Elevate together to share delicious food, celebrate traditions, and enjoy community! Our Thanksgiving & Diwali Potluck Celebration was a wonderful opport

12:00 AM

Free

Fri, Nov 131196 Lime Dr, Sunnyvale

Preschool Discovery Days – Giving Thanks Together

Join us for a special Preschool Discovery Day as we celebrate the season of giving together! Little learners will enjoy festive, hands-on activities centered around gratitude, kindness, and togetherness. Come experience the warmth of our Stratford communi

10:00 AM

Fri, Nov 13Jelly Belly Factory & Visitor Center, Fairfield

Solano Salvation Army Very Cherry Red Kettle Kickoff: A Night of Hope Gala

Join The Salvation Army Serving Solano County on Friday, November 13, 2026, from 5:30–9:00pm at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center for an inspiring evening marking the launch of our local Red Kettle Campaign. Funds raised at this event sustain The Salvation

5:30 PM

Thanksgiving table decor and hosting essentials

From the thermometer that saves the turkey to the tablecloth, the kids’ table and a hat for the Turkey Trot. Check delivery dates before you order.

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Thanksgiving events near San Francisco

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

Sat, Nov 28Mad Oak Bar ‘N’ Yard, Oakland

DA COOKOUT

3:00 PM

Free – $60.54

Since 1621

The history of Thanksgiving

It began with a harvest. In the autumn of 1621, the Plymouth colonists and their Wampanoag neighbours shared three days of food in a good year. Nobody called it Thanksgiving then. It took two more centuries, a determined editor and a president in the middle of a war to turn it into the day we know: a Thursday in November for family, food and being grateful.

Most of what fills the day now came later. The parade, the football, the morning Turkey Trot and the long table of sides were added by one generation after another, which is why every family’s Thanksgiving looks a little different.

  1. 1621After their first harvest, the Plymouth colonists hold three days of feasting. Massasoit arrives with about 90 Wampanoag men, who bring five deer.
  2. 1789George Washington proclaims the first national day of thanksgiving, for Thursday, 26 November.
  3. 1846–63Sarah Josepha Hale, the magazine editor who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, writes to five presidents asking for one national day.
  4. 1863In the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln makes the last Thursday of November a national Thanksgiving. It has been kept every year since.
  5. 1896Buffalo runs its first YMCA Turkey Trot, now the oldest footrace held every year in North America — a year older than the Boston Marathon.
  6. 1924Macy’s holds its first parade in New York, with animals from the Central Park Zoo. The giant balloons arrive in 1927.
  7. 1934The Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving for the first time, and football becomes part of the afternoon.
  8. 1939–41Franklin Roosevelt moves the day a week earlier to lengthen the shopping season. People call it “Franksgiving”, so Congress fixes it for good: the fourth Thursday of November.
  9. 1957Canada settles on the second Monday of October for its own Thanksgiving, which goes back to 1578.
  10. 1989George H. W. Bush gives the first formal presidential turkey pardon, now a White House tradition.

Thanksgiving in San Francisco: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in San Francisco in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in San Francisco run from Nov 1 to Nov 29, 2026: 100 events.

What is on in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day?

13 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering at Alcatraz Island, San Francisco California, The Village Bakery's Thanksgiving To-Go and The City Eats - 2026 THANKSGIVING GIVEBACK.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in San Francisco?

13 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Give Thanks Dinner Dance Party w/ The Bob Gutierrez Band at Verdi Club, Lucas Bar & Grill Micro Wine Dinner at Lucas Bar & Grill at Delta Hotels Santa Clara Silicon Valley and Newark Pavilion Holy Ghost Poker Night. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in San Francisco?

Yes: Hunter Army Airfield Turkey Trot 2026 at Squires Sports Complex (Sat, Nov 14), Move it Forward at Autry Park (Sat, Nov 14) and Goated Run Club · HERD 004 · Turkey Run at Harbor Bay Trail (Sat, Nov 21).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in San Francisco?

Hope Solutions Friendsgiving Volunteer Event, 2026 Friendsgiving a VGN Potluck and Food-Raiser and The City Eats - 2026 THANKSGIVING GIVEBACK are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in San Francisco?

Yes: 29 of the 100 listed are free, including Garden of Earthly Delights at Akoma a 'Thanks for Nothing' Comedy Show, The Blessed & Thankful Experience at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and Thanksgiving & Diwali Potluck Celebration. Tickets for the rest run from $8.24 to $588.73.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in San Francisco?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Thanksgiving Food Giveaway at Shiloh Church (Mon, Nov 23), PAN DULCE NITE B4 THANKSGIVING W/RPDR ALLSTAR JESSICA WILD LIVE @ BEAUX SF (Nov 25–26) and San Francisco Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at Downtown San Francisco (Wed, Nov 25).

Are there Thanksgiving events near San Francisco?

Yes: 6 more events are listed within reach, in Daly City, Santa Cruz, San Jose and Oakland.

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

In the United States, Thursday, November 26, 2026 — always the fourth Thursday of November. Canada celebrates earlier, on Monday, October 12, the second Monday of October.

What is Friendsgiving?

A Thanksgiving meal shared with friends rather than family, usually on a day near the holiday. Many restaurants and bars host Friendsgiving dinners and parties, so you can skip the cooking.

Do I need to book Thanksgiving dinner in advance?

Yes, as early as you can. Restaurants serving a Thanksgiving menu often fill up a week or more ahead, and many offer a set menu at fixed seatings on the day.