Thanksgiving in Boston 2024

Lowell City of Lights Parade and Festival - Lowell, MA - Nov 30, 2024
The Annual City Of Lights Holiday Parade welcomes the holiday season with the arrival of Mr and Mrs Claus and the traditional lighting of JFK Plaza and the Wannalancit smoke stack. In addition to a parade and tree lighting at City Hall, enjoy the festival of wreaths, pictures with Santa, carolling, the Holly Jolly Trolley, holiday movie screenings, ice skating, food trucks, holiday craft market and more.

Vineyards Artisans Festival - West Tisbury, MA - Nov 29 to Nov 30, 2024
Thanksgiving weekend show – This largest holiday art show by Islanders, features many holiday gifts such as one of a kind winter hand-made sweaters, hand-made soaps, Island lavender, and fine crafts including leather and vintage material bags, wood butcher block cutting boards, and so much more. The best part of coming to the Vineyard Artisan Festivals is meeting the artists and listening to how they love there art and enjoy making these beautiful gifts. Great food and live music. A $2.00 parking fee is for the Vineyard Artisans Scholarship Fund, which awards several scholarships to graduating MV High School students for studies in the Arts each year.

WCRC Wild Turkey Trot - Salisbury, MA - Nov 28, 2024
Winner’s Circle Running Club annual 5K. It will be run Thanksgiving morning. They feature runner and family friendly trails and post race refreshments. The new course, which is primarily on a rail trail, offers a fast and flat but scenic course

Boston Volvo Thanksgiving Day MS Run - Allston, MA - Nov 28, 2024
The Boston Volvo 5k and the Wilmington Thanksgiving Day MS Run have combined into this annual event. Run while raising funds for MS research while working up an appetite for pie.

Northborough Turkey Trot - Northborough, MA - Nov 28, 2024
Each Thanksgiving morning, close to 1,000 runners and walkers gather at the Marion E. Zeh school on Howard Street in Northborough to raise money for the Northborough Food Pantry. Over the years, the Turkey Trot has raised more than $65,000 for the Northborough Food Pantry. This year, support Northborough families in need by helping subsidize summer camps through the Northborough Recreation department.

Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race - Andover, MA - Nov 28, 2024
5k or 5 Mile, plus Kids K fun run. The Proceeds from the race benefit the The Bellesini Academy, The Merrimack Valley Y, the MVS high school scholarship fund, and Groundwork Lawrence

Dreamcatcher Classic - Weymouth, MA - Nov 28, 2024
Proceeds go to Dreamcatcher Scholarship for Weymouth High School students to assist with athletic fees and new Julie Rodick Scholarship Fund for Weymouth High School graduates.

Concord Turkey Trot - Concord, MA - Nov 28, 2024
This family friendly events has attracted over 2,000 runners each year and benefits the Open Table of Concord and Maynard. Proceeds have also supported local youth running programs.

Gobble Gobble Gobble Thanksgiving Race - Somerville, MA - Nov 28, 2024
The Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble starts and ends in Davis Square (at the heart of Somerville), features a unique 4 mile course, and offers a fun opportunity to start Thanksgiving on a high and healthy note! Proceeds benefit Somerville Homeless Coalition, Somerville Track PAC, and Dilboy VFW Veterans Relief Fund.

Franklin Park Turkey Trot 5K - Dorchester, MA - Nov 28, 2024
The Franklin Park Coalition’s now-famous Turkey Trot started in 2013. After another record-breaking year, with more than 1,400 runners participating in 2019, it went virtual in 2020, but the Turkey Trot is back to its orgins in 2021 (with appropriate safety protocals in place). With runners and walkers coming primarily from the neighborhoods that border the park, including Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Mattapan, the Turkey Trot is the largest Thanksgiving Day race in the City of Boston.

Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument - Provincetown, MA - Nov 27, 2024
Each year, PMPM lights the Pilgrim Monument to commemorate the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in Provincetown Harbor.

Festival of Wreaths - Nantucket, MA - Nov 25 to Nov 30, 2024
The Festival of Wreaths is the NHA’s kickoff celebration to the holiday season! This community driven event features an array of beautifully crafted wreaths made by islanders from local businesses, non-profits, schools, and organizations. From traditionally decorated greens to unconventional arrangements, the Festival of Wreaths truly captures the creativity of Nantucketers! Visitors can bid on their favorite wreaths in a silent auction to benefit the NHA’s year-round outreach efforts. FREE for NHA members and Island Residents.

ZooLights at Zoo New England - Stoneham, MA - Nov 15 to Jan 5, 2025
This winter wonderland takes you on a stroll through the Zoo, along tree-lined paths lit by twinkling lights. Spanning the Zoo’s 26 acres, walk through the beautifully lit Yukon Creek and see black bears, a bald eagle, Canada lynx, arctic foxes, and even reindeer!

Essex Turkey Trot - Essex, MA - Nov 20, 2022

Cranfest - Plymouth, MA - Nov 11 to Nov 12, 2022

Parade of the Big Balloons - Springfield, MA - Nov 26, 2021
Canceled for 2022 due to helium shortage . Normally: Main Street in downtown Springfield will be filled with people, bands, motorized contingents, huge balloon characters and more on the day after Thanksgiving, as the Spirit of Springfield launches the annual Parade of the Big Balloons. The helium-filled balloons will include the 75-foot Cat In the Hat, the MGM Lion balloon, and a balloon of the American flag. The rest of the parade will feature cold-air inflatables that rise 20 feet in the air. Don’t miss the arrival of Santa near the end!

Thanksgiving Eve Party at Howl at the Moon Boston - Boston, MA - Nov 24, 2021
Turkey is good, but booze is better! Celebrate the long holiday weekend with some live music, dancing and drinks, with featured drinks, games, dancing and a great night out!