Wondering what you should do if you're spending Thanksgiving in Chicago? You're in luck! Thanksgiving is a fantastic time to visit Chicago. Thanksgiving is a national holiday observed on different days in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia, with the holiday falling on November 24th this year in the United States. Since 1941, it has been observed on the fourth Thursday of November, hence the exact date of the holiday changes each year. There's a lot to learn about Thanksgiving, so here's your guide to all you need to know to participate in the fun.
What is the meaning of Thanksgiving in the USA?
In American culture, Thanksgiving marks the start of the fall-winter holiday season, which also includes Christmas and New Year's. Originally a harvest festival with a focus on gratitude and enjoying a hearty meal, the Thanksgiving dinner continues to be the focal point of the holiday's activities. Americans generally believe that Thanksgiving is based on a harvest feast held in 1621 by English colonists from Plymouth and the Wampanoag people to celebrate the harvests and other blessings of the previous year.
How do they traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving in Chicago?
The annual Chicago Thanksgiving Parade kicks off Thanksgiving in Chicago. Many Chicagoans then proceed to Millennium Park to admire the City of Chicago Christmas Tree - just a four-minute drive from the parade's finale. Yes, the Christmas tree is up early. Many people come to take pictures during the day, but the tree is much more beautiful at night when it is lit up. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner follows, rounding off everyone's ‘Turkey Day’. Activities between visiting the Christmas tree and the dinner vary, many people go shopping, ice skating, or to a Christmas Tree farm, or even attend a candlelit concert while enjoying the day with family and friends.
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
Originally known as the Christmas Caravan, the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade began in the 1930s. The parade was intended to uplift the spirits of individuals who were suffering as a result of the Great Depression. This year's (free) parade will take place on Chicago's renowned State Street in the Loop from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., with live entertainment featuring marching bands, acrobats, equestrian, soul steppers, fire twirlers, and many more remarkable performances. In Chicago, celebrating Thanksgiving means watching the street fill up with more than 100 floats and acts, watching the skies fill up with gigantic helium balloons (led by Teddy the Turkey, the parade's official mascot).
Thanksgiving Food
Thanksgiving meal must-haves include a green bean casserole and a turkey that is often roasted and stuffed. As of 2021, approximately 50 million turkeys were served on Thanksgiving in the USA. Side dishes usually associated with Thanksgiving meal include mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauces, sweet corn, brussels sprouts, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cheesecake, and other fall vegetables. It might be argued that Americans consume more food on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year due to the size of the meal.
NFL Thanksgiving game
Football on Thanksgiving in the USA debuted in 1876 with a one-off game between Yale and Princeton. Then, in 1920, the first Thanksgiving-day NFL games were held. Since 2006, the NFL has switched from the traditional two-game slate on Thanksgiving to a three-game slate. Every Thanksgiving, the game hours are 12:30pm EST, 4:30pm EST, and 8:20pm EST - because, like the food, no one can ever get enough football on Thanksgiving. The following games are scheduled for this year:
- Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions at 12:30pm EST
- New York Giants at Dalla Cowboys at 4:30pm EST
- New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings at 8:20pm EST
These matches will kick off Week 12 of the 2022 regular season. Although none of the games are being played in Chicago, they will be aired on CBS, FOX, and NBC.
Where to Eat Out in Chicago for Thanksgiving in the USA
Celebrating Thanksgiving in Chicago? Many visitors to the city decide to eat out rather than deal with the hassle of preparing a huge meal. Here are a couple of the top locations available for Thanksgiving dinner in the Windy City. On Thanksgiving, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab is open from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. EST. It is located on the city's eastern outskirts and is free for children under the age of five. The Smith in River North is also open on this holiday, presenting a three-course meal with lots of alternatives. Maple & Ash is another restaurant that is operating on Thanksgiving. With chandeliers, candelabras, and giant velvet booths, this steakhouse is effortlessly extravagant.
Black Friday in Chicago
The day following Thanksgiving in the USA is known as Black Friday. Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Almost every brand and store reduces their prices significantly on high-ticket products, with millions of discounts available on everything from TVs, computers, home appliances, cosmetics, fashion, toys, and much more. This is a method for brands to signal the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Shopping on Black Friday in Chicago is best done at the stores along Michigan Avenue, popularly referred to as the Magnificent Mile. The Magnificent Mile features over 450 retailers, including prominent brands, department stores, and designer labels, as well as three separate shopping centres. With so many selections along Magnificent Mile, you'll be able to find exactly what's on your Black Friday shopping list.
Turkey Traditions
There are a few additional Thanksgiving traditions that you should be aware of before spending Thanksgiving in Chicago. Unlike Black Friday, Black Wednesday (also known as Blackout Wednesday) is a pre-Thanksgiving ritual. Chicagoans would often dress in black cocktail party clothes at the Hubbard Inn's Black Wednesday Dress Party. In addition, there is the Presidential Turkey Pardon. The National Turkey Federation sponsors this tradition, which has provided presidents with birds to eat since 1947. It wasn't until 1963, when JFK spared his turkey, that the Presidential Pardon became popular, and it is now something the president does every year.
We've highlighted eight things you should know about Thanksgiving in Chicago and where to dine out in the Windy City, but here are six Chicago restaurants that are guaranteed to impress your guests when visiting the city.
