What is open on Thanksgiving in New York?
Wondering what is open on Thanksgiving in New York? Opening hours may in fact be different from other days. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year. This means that in 2024 the holiday falls on Thursday November 28th. If you are in New York at this time, attractions and sights may have different opening hours. You can see what there is to do in New York during Thanksgiving below.
Events for Thanksgiving 2024 are not available yet
Would you like to receive an email as soon as the events are available? Send me a message at eric@newyork.com.au and I’ll email you on the day the tickets go on sale.
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What’s open on Thanksgiving in New York City
Because this is an important holiday for Americans, the opening hours of attractions and sights will also be different. You can see what there is to do below:
Activities open on Thanksgiving 2023
| Major Attractions | Major Museums | ||
| Empire State Building | ✔ | Madame Tussauds | ✔ |
| Top of the Rock | ✔ | RiseNY | ✔ |
| One World Observatory | ✔ | National Museum of the American Indian | ✔ |
| Edge Observation Deck | ✔ | MoMA | ✖ |
| Summit One Vanderbilt | ✔ | The Met | ✖ |
| 9/11 Memorial | ✔ | 9/11 Museum | ✖ |
| Bike rentals and tours | ✔ | American Museum of Natural History | ✖ |
| Circle Line Cruises | ✔ | Guggenheim | ✖ |
| Ice Skating in Central Park | ✔ | Intrepid Museum | ✖ |
| Zoos & New York Aquarium | ✔ | All other museums are closed | |
| Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island | ✖ | Broadway | |
| Hop on Hop off Buses | ✖ | Chicago | ✔ |
| Dyker Heights Christmas Lights | ✖ | Radio City Christmas Spectacular | ✔ |
| Rockefeller Christmas Tree | ✖ | No other Broadway shows on this day | |
| Sports | Shops | ||
| No sports games on this day | Macy's | ✖ | |
| Public transportation | ✔ | Woodbury Common Outlet | ✖ |
| Restaurants | ✔ | Empire Outlets | ✖ |
What is there to do on Thanksgiving?
There are many things to do during Thanksgiving in New York, such as watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where you will see large balloons of famous figures float by. You can also take a Thanksgiving cruise, where you will enjoy views of the Manhattan skyline and some classic Thanksgiving food.
Shopping on Thanksgiving
Many shops, including supermarkets, are closed on Thanksgiving. Pharmacies and bodegas (small neighbourhood grocery stores) will be open.
Black Friday starts right after Thanksgiving, and many stores open their doors in the early hours. You can find large discounts and great deals on Black Friday!
Getting around the city on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year, and many New Yorkers travel to visit family and friends. Travelling around the city by car or taxi is a hassle due to the parade that passes through the streets in the morning, so you can expect delays and traffic jams. As a result, it’s better to take the subway or walk if you can. Keep in mind that public transport runs on a modified schedule on Thanksgiving Day.
The parade is attended by several million spectators every year, so expect the area around the parade in particular to be busiest in the hours leading up to the parade and just after.
Are things open on Thanksgiving in New York?
Does the subway run in New York during Thanksgiving?
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