Our Guide to Thanksgiving Ann Arbor 2025 will help you plan your Thanksgiving celebrations. From Thanksgiving Feasts to Turkey Trots to pre-Thanksgiving Events, Activities, and more.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, I’ve assembled a list of Michigan Thanksgiving 2025 events near Ann Arbor. I’ve also got some activity and recipe ideas.
Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Feasts & Free Thanksgiving Meals
Ease the cooking burden with a Thanksgiving To-Go feast. There are options for small groups like your immediate family or for a larger family/friends group. At the bottom of the list we highlight who offers Thanksgiving pickup, Vegetarian/Vegan options, and non-turkey options. Don’t miss out on the roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie!
Gobble & Go: Quick Guide to Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Dinners
Have you checked out our amazing guide for Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Dinner 2025? . Our list of where to get Thanksgiving Dinner near Ann Arbor 2025 includes full feasts, a la carte items, just turkeys, and individual plates. We also have a list of who is offering alternate entrees – vegetarian, ham, beef, etc. Be […]
Free Meals on Thanksgiving 2025
The following free meals were offered for Thanksgiving 2024. We will be updating for 2025 soon.
- Thursday, November 28 noon-2p – Delonis Center – 315 W Huron St, Ann Arbor – To-Go meals handed out by Ann Arbor Vineyard Church – listed on Food Gatherers website
- Thursday, November 28 5-6p – Hope Clinic – 518 Harriet St, Ypsilanti – grab and go Thanksgiving Meals – listed on Food Gatherers website
- Thursday, November 28 – noon-5p – Stone Chalet – 1917 Washtenaw Ave – Free community holiday meal on Thanksgiving day for people who need a meal or are spending the day alone. RSVPs are not required but appreciated
Traditionally Original Cottage Inn has offered free meals every Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, they have closed since Thanksgiving 2023.
Ann Arbor Turkey Trots
Work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving dinner by starting the day with one of the annual Turkey Trots near Ann Arbor.
Gobble Gobble: The Best Ann Arbor Turkey Trots
There are typically 3 Ann Arbor Turkey Trots from mid-November through Thanksgiving. Turkey trots are a great way to work off some calories before indulging in your Thanksgiving feast! Run off those calories then indulge in turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pie! Join a family friendly Turkey Trot Thanksgiving 2025 and start a new family […]
Ann Arbor Pre-Thanksgiving Events
Whether on Thanksgiving or another day, there are several Thanksgiving themed events leading up to Thanksgiving. We are still adding events to our calendar, so be sure to check back
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓🎟 | November 1 1:00pm-2:30pm | Turkey Trek at Parker Mill Park, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 1 2:00pm-4:00pm | Autumnal Decor Crafternoon at SCRAP Creative Reuse, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙 | November 5 5:00pm-6:00pm | CommuniTEA Table at Washteanw Food Hub, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 8 10:00am-10:45am | Mommy and Me - Personalized Scarecrow at Whitepine Studios, Saline Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 15 2:00pm-3:00pm | Scarecrow Painting PARTy for Kids at Whitepine Studios, Saline Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 15 6:00pm-8:30pm | Kids’ Night Out: Turkey Circuits & Gobble Bots at Future Innovators Academy, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓🎟 | November 19 4:30pm-6:00pm | Kids in the Kitchen: Thanksgiving Treats at Ann Arbor Senior Center, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | November 20 10:00am-2:00pm | Thankful for You - Thanksgiving Pick-Up at EMU George Gervin GameAbove Center, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 22 9:00am-12:00pm | Turkey Trails - Ann Arbor at Kensington Metropark, Milford Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 22 10:00am-12:00pm | Turkey Time Trek at Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | November 22 11:00am-11:30am | Drop-In Thanksgiving Story Time & Craft at Dexter District Library, Dexter Michigan |
| 💙🆓🎟 | November 24 11:00am-12:00pm | Toddler Time: Turkey Tales at Ann Arbor Senior Center, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | November 24 4:30pm-5:30pm | Make Your Own Craft Bag for Thanksgiving Break at Dexter District Library, Dexter Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 26 1:00pm-2:00pm | Wild About Turkeys at Kensington Metropark Nature Center, Milford Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | November 27 7:00am-10:00am | Ann Arbor Turkey Trot - Thanksgiving Day at Main Street Area, Ann Arbor MI |
Events on Thanksgiving in Ann Arbor
Thanksgiving is not the day for local events (other than meals and turkey trots)
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🎟 | November 27 7:00am-10:00am | Ann Arbor Turkey Trot - Thanksgiving Day at Main Street Area, Ann Arbor MI |
November 27 11:00am-2:30pm | Open Skate at Buhr Park Outside Ice Arena, Ann Arbor Michigan | |
November 27 7:15pm-8:30pm | Open Skate at Buhr Park Outside Ice Arena, Ann Arbor Michigan |
Thanksgiving Camps
Do you have to work on Wednesday or Friday? Check out these camps offered on Wednesday or Friday. of Thanksgiving Week. Camp offerings are limited over Thanksgiving break.
From Sports to Arts: Ann Arbor’s Diverse Winter Break Camps
Are you looking for an Ann Arbor Winter Break Camp? Ann Arbor Public Schools is in session through Friday, December 20 and returns Monday, January 6. There are camp offerings both weeks of break. There are also several days off or mini-breaks in January and February – Martin Luther King Jr Day and Presidents Day is […]
Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Ann Arbor
Do you want to ease your cooking burden on Thanksgiving? There are several restaurants open on Thanksgiving.
- Carlyle Grill – Open, but booked as of 11/23
- Gandy Dancer – Open, but as of 11/23 I didn’t find any reservations.
- Holiday’s Restaurant – 8a-11a Breakfast, 11a-3p Lunch
- Sweetwaters Plymouth Green – 6a-2p
- Washtenaw Dairy – 7a-1p (2023 hours, but I did see they are open in 2025)
- Weber’s Restaurant – Open for Pre-Order pickup and in Restaurant Dining. Limited Carryout may be available.
- Mediterrano – Very limited reservations available on Open Table
- Texas de Brazil – Reservations available on Open Table
- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – Reservations available on Open Table
- K-Pot – noon-10:30p (Dinner pricing all day)
- Tous les Jours – 8a-9p
- Alpha Koney Island – 8a-1p – They typically post only a couple of days before.
What’s Open or Closed on Thanksgiving Weekend in Ann Arbor
Are you wondering what’s open today? If in doubt, assume that most places are closed (libraries, museums, indoor play locations, stores, etc). The exceptions are some grocery stores, restaurants, and movie theaters.
We will be confirming the list of opens and closures for 2022. This information is typically only announced a couple days ahead of time.
Open On Thanksgiving
Our list includes those Places Open on Thanksgiving Near Ann Arbor:
- Movie Theaters
- Michigan & State Theater (first shows after 6p)
- Emagine – Shows all Day
- Cinemark – Shows all Day
- Food to Go
- Washtenaw Dairy – Open 7a-1p
- Parks
- Outdoor Parks are open
- Leslie Science & Nature Center – Outdoor Grounds Open
- Nichols Arboretum & Matthaei Botanical Gardens – Outdoor trails open
- Grocery Stores
- Meijer – 6a-5p
- Kroger – Stores close at 3p. Pharmacy Closed
- Plum Market – 8a-6p
- Whole Foods Market – Open 7a-1p
- (2024) Sparrow Market – 8a-noon – posted only a couple of days ahead in 2024
- Activities
- BIG Best in Games – Open 5-9p – First Floor Attractions, Arcade & Bar
Closed on Thanksgiving
- Grocery Stores
- Busch’s
- Trader Joe’s
- Parks
- Museums
- Activities
- Ann Arbor District Library
- Ypsilanti District Library (also closed Friday, November 28)
- Services
- Government Offices & Services (including trash pickup)
- Banks
Thanksgiving Activities
Craft – Thanksgiving Puppet
Are you looking for fun crafts this Thanksgiving? In 2017, Scrap Box provided us with an idea for a fun Puppet Craft. Click on the image for printable PDF directions.
Thanksgiving Recipe
Looking for a fun, but easy Thanksgiving breakfast? How about Cinnamon Roll Turkeys.
Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
Ever since Halloween ended I have been seeing cute ideas for Christmas food all over my social media. Somehow cute Thanksgiving food gets lost in the shuffle. I decided to help combat that by making Cinnamon Roll Turkeys from refrigerated cinnamon rolls – perfect for a Thanksgiving morning breakfast. Since we are using refrigerated cinnamon rolls in a can, these turkeys […]
Thanksgiving Games
We shared some ideas for Thanksgiving Games. There’s our version of Pictionary – played with an iPad and projected to the TV. We’ve got a word list for you. Plus we’ve created a few Mad Libs style fill in the blanks.
Thanksgiving Pinterest
Check out our Thanksgiving Pinterest Board for more crafts, fun recipes, and activities.
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