Thanksgiving 2024: The highly anticipated holiday season is about to begin with Thanksgiving. This special occasion brings friends and family together to share festive meals, enjoy each other's company, and express gratitude for life's blessings. It marks the start of the biggest holiday season in the U.S.
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family, enjoy a hearty meal, and give thanks for life's blessings and the abundance of nature's harvest. This ancient festival dates back centuries and is deeply rooted in gratitude and unity. It holds a special place in history and carries unique significance in both the United States and Canada.
When is Thanksgiving in 2024?
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year, which can fall anywhere from November 22 to the end of the month. In 2024, it will be observed on November 28, arriving a little later than usual.
While many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with a home-cooked meal surrounded by loved ones, a growing tradition also includes heading out to grab Black Friday deals, with some shopping starting on Thanksgiving evening. However, this trend changed in 2020 when many stores decided to close or shift their sales online.
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Thanksgiving 2024: Is it a Federal Holiday in the U.S.?
Thanksgiving Day 2024 is a recognized U.S. Federal Holiday. The celebrations will kick off at 8:30 AM on November 28 across all time zones, with actor Alison Brie, known for her role in Glow and currently starring in Apple TV's Apples Never Fall, leading the festivities.
This year's parade will showcase 17 massive character balloons, 22 vibrant floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, and 10 performance groups. The event will be broadcast on NBC and available for streaming on Peacock. "Today" hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will lead the broadcast, while a Spanish-language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.
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Wondering if you can grab groceries or mail something on Thanksgiving Day? Here's a breakdown of what's open and closed on Thursday, November 28.
Retail: For the fifth year in a row, Target stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving, as reported by CNN. Walmart and Best Buy will also keep their retail stores closed for the holiday.
Grocery Stores: While most grocery stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, Kroger's hours may vary. Most stores under the Albertsons Companies umbrella—such as Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Vons, and Tom Thumb—will remain open, but with adjusted hours, according to CNN.
Whole Foods will operate with modified hours, while Trader Joe's and Aldi will be closed. Additionally, warehouse stores Sam's Club and Costco will not be open on Thursday.
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What about government offices and banks?
Since Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, federal offices, courts, and post offices will be closed. Other government services, including the DMV and libraries, will also be closed.
Additionally, Thanksgiving is a banking holiday, meaning the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange will not be open for trading. Most bank branches will be closed, though online banking and ATMs will still be operational.
The US Postal Service will be closed on Thanksgiving, and while UPS and FedEx services will be suspended, some express services may still be available.
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