From a 1621 Harvest to the Most Famous Parade in the World
Thanksgiving is the most American of holidays: a day for family, turkey and gratitude that millions celebrate every fourth Thursday of November. In New York it has a flavor of its own, with a parade that celebrates its 100th edition in 2026, restaurants with special menus and a city that, for one day, slows down.
In this guide we tell you where Thanksgiving comes from, how New Yorkers used to celebrate it before the parade existed, and then everything practical for Thursday, November 26, 2026: the parade, where to eat, what is open and closed, and how to make the most of the long weekend.
Last updated: October 21, 2026.
The Origins: A Harvest Feast in 1621
The tradition looks back to the autumn of 1621, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony shared a harvest celebration with the Wampanoag people. For more than two centuries, though, there was no fixed national date: each state and president proclaimed its own days of thanks.
On October 3, 1789, George Washington proclaimed the first national day of thanksgiving for Thursday, November 26, 1789. By coincidence, it is exactly the same date as Thanksgiving in 2026.
The Woman Who Made It a National Holiday
For decades, the writer and editor Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for an annual national day of thanks. Her persistence paid off in the middle of the Civil War: on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a nationwide holiday, set for the last Thursday of November.
The date changed one more time. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it a week earlier to give the economy a longer holiday shopping season, which caused so much confusion that, in 1941, Congress fixed it permanently on the fourth Thursday of November.
Ragamuffin Day: New York’s Forgotten Thanksgiving Tradition
Long before the giant balloons, New York had its own, much stranger way of celebrating. From at least 1891 and through the first decades of the 20th century, on Thanksgiving Day children dressed up in masks and oversized old clothes and roamed the streets asking adults, “Anything for Thanksgiving?” They usually got pennies or candy, and it looked a lot like modern trick-or-treating.
Adults gradually pushed back against the rowdy “ragamuffins,” and by the 1940s the tradition had nearly disappeared, just as Halloween became the holiday for costumes and candy.
The Parade: 100 Editions in 2026
In 1924 a department store organized a parade on Thanksgiving morning, with employees in costume and animals from the Central Park Zoo. Since then it has been suspended only during World War II, from 1942 to 1944, which is why 2026 marks its 100th edition. The parade runs on Thursday, November 26, from 8:30 a.m. to about noon, from 77th Street and Central Park West down to Herald Square on 34th Street.
The night before, on Wednesday, November 25, the giant balloons are inflated next to the American Museum of Natural History, a free event that lets you see them up close. We cover the route, the best spots and the full history in our guide to the 2026 parade.
Where to Eat on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving dinner is a family celebration, and many New York restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. They fill up fast, so book weeks in advance if you want a table. If you prefer something more casual, many neighborhood diners and delis stay open and serve their own version of the traditional meal.
What Is Open and Closed on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, and much of the city slows down. Many stores close or open late in the day to prepare for Black Friday, and some major museums close: the American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Museum, for example, are closed on Thanksgiving Day. The subway runs, usually on a reduced schedule. Check each place’s hours before you go.
Tips for the Long Weekend
The parade crowds are enormous, so arrive by 6:00 a.m. if you want a good spot, and use the subway, since streets near the route are closed for much of the morning. Friday, November 27 is Black Friday, the start of the holiday shopping season, and that weekend the Christmas lights begin to appear across the city. Dress warmly: late November in New York can be very cold, especially in the early morning.
Make the Most of the Thanksgiving Weekend
The long weekend is the perfect time to see more of the city. Our New York Contrasts Tour takes you through the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn in about four hours with a Spanish-speaking guide. And when the Christmas lights come on, the Christmas Lights Tour in New York City: Dyker Heights shows you the most famous decorated houses in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Thanksgiving in 2026?
On Thursday, November 26, 2026. Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
What time is the Thanksgiving parade in New York?
From 8:30 a.m. to about noon on November 26, 2026. It is the 100th edition.
Why is Thanksgiving on a Thursday?
The tradition of Thursday dates back to early proclamations, including George Washington’s in 1789. Since 1941, federal law has set it on the fourth Thursday of November.
What was Ragamuffin Day?
A New York tradition from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in which children dressed up on Thanksgiving and asked adults for pennies or candy. It nearly disappeared by the 1940s.
Are museums open on Thanksgiving?
Some close, such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Museum. Check each museum’s hours before you go.
When is Black Friday in 2026?
On Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving.
Related Articles
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026: Complete Guide (Route, Schedule & Best Spots)
Black Friday in New York 2026: Complete Guide (Dates, Hours, Best Stores & Tips)
Christmas in New York 2026: The Complete Guide
Sources
Sources: U.S. National Archives, Thanksgiving proclamations (archives.gov); New York Family History, “Tomorrow Is Ragamuffin Day”; American Museum of Natural History, Hours (amnh.org); Intrepid Museum, Visitor Information (intrepidmuseum.org); Real’s Tours NYC, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026 guide. Dates, hours and schedules are subject to change.
Real’s Tours NYC is not affiliated with Macy’s, the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Museum or any organization mentioned in this article. Dates, hours and schedules may change, so please confirm current information before your visit.
