Thanksgiving in Los Angeles 2026: Turkey Trots, Events and What Is Open

Thanksgiving in Los Angeles is less about snow and parades in the cold and more about a morning run in the sunshine, a long lunch outdoors and the start of the holiday light season. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, and the long weekend is packed: turkey trots, the LA Auto Show, ice rinks, holiday light walks and the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday.

This guide covers what is open, what to do from Thursday to Sunday, where to eat if you are not cooking and how to avoid the worst of the holiday traffic.

For the rest of the season, see our Los Angeles events calendar.

Thanksgiving morning turkey trots

A Thanksgiving morning run is an LA tradition, and most races welcome walkers, strollers and costumes.

• Turkey Trot Los Angeles: starts and finishes at Los Angeles City Hall in downtown, with a 5K, a 10K, a one-mile dog jog and a kids’ race for ages 12 and under. Check-in is at Grand Park, and the race raises money for the Midnight Mission.
• Rose Bowl Turkey Trot, Pasadena: a 5K loop around the Rose Bowl and Brookside Golf Course; leashed dogs are welcome.
• Drumstick Dash, North Hollywood: a 5K and 10K in the San Fernando Valley with costume and dance contests.

Register early. Popular races sell out, and race-day registration costs more when it is available. Take Metro to downtown races if you can; the B and D Lines stop at Civic Center/Grand Park.

What is open on Thanksgiving Day

Many attractions close on Thanksgiving, so check before you go. Usually open:

• The LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which runs from November 20 to 29, 2026, and is open on Thanksgiving. Family four-pack tickets are sold for November 25 and 26. Read our LA Auto Show guide.
• Outdoor ice rinks such as Pershing Square in downtown and Ice at Santa Monica, which typically open from midday on Thanksgiving.
• Theme parks: Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knott’s are open, but crowds are heavy all weekend.
• Beaches and hiking trails: a classic LA way to walk off lunch.

Usually closed on Thanksgiving: The Broad, most city museums and the LA Zoo. The Getty Center is also closed on Thanksgiving.

Eating out on Thanksgiving

Plenty of LA restaurants serve a Thanksgiving menu, from turkey with all the sides to family-style feasts. Hotel restaurants and steakhouses are the most reliable for a traditional dinner. Book early: popular spots fill up by early November.

If you would rather skip the big meal, many of the city’s taquerias, Korean barbecue spots and dim sum halls stay open. See our guides to the best tacos in Los Angeles and best Korean BBQ in LA.

Black Friday and the holiday weekend

The day after Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season across the city:

• Holiday lights: displays such as LA Zoo Lights, Descanso Gardens’ light walk and holiday events at King Gillette Ranch open around Thanksgiving week. See our guide to Christmas lights in Los Angeles.
• Shopping: The Grove, Westfield Century City, Americana at Brand in Glendale and the Citadel Outlets in Commerce draw the biggest Black Friday crowds. The Grove’s tree is already up and lit by then.
• Theme park holiday events: Knott’s Merry Farm starts November 20 and Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Holiday in the Park begins November 26.
• Smorgasburg LA: the Sunday food market in downtown’s ROW DTLA often adds a holiday market from late November.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade

The Hollywood Christmas Parade takes place on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, which is November 29, 2026. The evening parade runs along a U-shaped 3.2-mile route on Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard, with celebrities, marching bands, floats and Santa at the end. Curbside viewing is free; grandstand seats sell out early. Our Hollywood Christmas Parade guide has the details.

Getting around on Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times at LAX and on Southern California freeways.

• Wednesday afternoon is the worst for traffic leaving town; the I-5, I-10 and I-15 back up for hours.
• Thanksgiving morning is usually quiet on the roads.
• Sunday afternoon brings heavy return traffic.
• LAX: arrive early, and consider the FlyAway bus from Union Station or Van Nuys to skip airport parking.
• Metro runs a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day; check times before you go.

Frequently asked questions

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26, 2026.

Is there a Thanksgiving parade in Los Angeles?

LA does not have a Thanksgiving Day parade. The big parade is the Hollywood Christmas Parade on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 29, 2026.

Is the LA Auto Show open on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The 2026 LA Auto Show runs from November 20 to 29 and is open on Thanksgiving Day.

Where is the Turkey Trot in Los Angeles?

Turkey Trot Los Angeles starts and finishes at Los Angeles City Hall in downtown. There are also turkey trots at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and in North Hollywood.

Are museums open on Thanksgiving in LA?

Most are closed, including The Broad and the Getty Center. Check each museum’s website before you go.

Photo credits

Featured image: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.