You're probably looking at your long-term calendar or maybe you're just one of those hyper-organized people who likes to know exactly where the holidays land years in advance. I get it. Planning for the "big one" involves a lot of moving parts. If you are specifically asking when is thanksgiving 2029, the answer is pretty straightforward: Thursday, November 22, 2022.
Wait. Let me double-check that math for you because the calendar is a fickle beast.
Actually, Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2029, the month starts on a Thursday. If November 1st is a Thursday, then the subsequent Thursdays are the 8th, the 15th, and the 22nd. So, the holiday arrives exceptionally early that year. It’s basically as early as the holiday can possibly be. This isn't just a trivia point; it fundamentally changes the "feel" of the holiday season.
The Early Bird Thanksgiving of 2029
When the holiday lands on November 22, the "holiday creep" starts feeling very real. You’ve got a massive gap between the turkey dinner and Christmas. Usually, we're used to Thanksgiving falling closer to the 25th or 28th. When it hits on the 22nd, you suddenly find yourself with nearly a full extra week of "holiday season" before the year ends.
Retailers love this.
Logistically, it means Black Friday is on November 23rd. Small Business Saturday is the 24th. Cyber Monday happens on November 26th. If you’re a person who feels rushed during December, 2029 is going to be your favorite year. You get a breather. You get time to actually digest the stuffing before you have to start thinking about peppermint mochas and tinsel.
It’s kind of wild how much the date shifts. If you look at the federal law—specifically the one signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt back in 1941—it codified this "fourth Thursday" rule. Before that, it was a bit of a mess. Different states celebrated on different days. FDR actually tried to push it earlier during the Great Depression to boost retail sales, a move people jokingly called "Franksgiving." Eventually, Congress stepped in and made it official.
Why the 2029 Date is a Statistical Outlier
Most years, we're looking at a late November vibe. Cold air. Maybe some snow on the ground in the North. When you move the date up to the 22nd, you’re still technically in that late-autumn transition.
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I’ve talked to travelers who swear that the "early" Thanksgiving years are the hardest to book. Why? Because when the date is early, it doesn't overlap with as many school winter breaks. It stands alone. Families have to coordinate more aggressively.
Think about the weather, too. According to historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the difference in average temperature between November 22 and November 28 can be significant in places like Chicago or Minneapolis. You’re more likely to have "leaf-peeping" weather than "shoveling-the-driveway" weather.
Travel Logistics for November 22, 2029
If you’re planning a trip, listen up. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is notoriously the worst travel day of the year in the United States. In 2029, that’s Wednesday, November 21.
Expect the airports to be a zoo.
Honestly, if you have the flexibility, fly on Monday the 19th. Or, better yet, fly on Thanksgiving Day itself. I did that once. The airport was ghost-town quiet, the flight attendants were in a great mood, and I still made it in time for dinner.
- Flight Booking Window: For a November 22 holiday, start tracking prices in June.
- The "Goldilocks" Zone: Usually 45 to 60 days out is the sweet spot for domestic U.S. flights.
- Alternative Routes: Consider secondary airports like Midway instead of O'Hare, or Burbank instead of LAX.
Travelers often forget that since it's an early Thanksgiving, the return travel on Sunday, November 25, will be absolute chaos. Everyone is trying to get back before work starts on Monday the 26th.
The Impact on Traditions and Retail
Black Friday in 2029 is going to be interesting. Because it’s so early, the "Christmas Shopping Season" is extended. You have 33 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Compare that to years where Thanksgiving is on the 28th, leaving only 26 shopping days.
That extra week is a massive deal for the economy.
Economists like those at the National Retail Federation (NRF) often track these "long" seasons. They usually result in higher overall consumer spending because the pressure is lower. People don't feel that frantic December 15th panic quite as early. You can actually enjoy the festivities.
Then there’s the football.
The NFL Thanksgiving tradition is ironclad. In 2029, we know the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be hosting games because they always do. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1934 for Detroit and 1966 for Dallas. By the time 2029 rolls around, we’ll likely see even more "Black Friday" games on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, which started becoming a thing in the early 2020s.
Looking at the Calendar Long-Term
It’s weird to think about, but the calendar repeats in cycles. The 2029 calendar is actually identical to the 2018 calendar. If you can remember what you were doing for Thanksgiving in 2018, you can expect the same day-of-the-week alignment.
The early date also impacts the start of Advent for those who observe religious traditions. In 2029, the first Sunday of Advent falls on December 2. Usually, it can be as early as November 27. This gap gives families a "reset" week between the turkey leftovers and the start of the liturgical year.
Preparing for the 2029 Season
So, what should you actually do with this information?
First, check your passport if you're planning an international Thanksgiving trip. Passports usually last 10 years. If you got yours in 2019, it’s going to expire right around the time you’re trying to book those 2029 tickets. Don't be the person stuck at the gate.
Second, think about your hosting rotation. If 2029 is "your year" to host the family, the November 22 date gives you a bit more leeway for outdoor activities if you’re in a temperate climate.
Basically, 2029 gives us the gift of time.
It’s a long runway to the end of the year. Use it. Whether you’re a business owner planning Q4 projections or a parent trying to figure out when the kids are out of school, knowing that when is thanksgiving 2029 happens on November 22 is the first step in reclaiming your schedule.
Immediate Next Steps for Planning
Start by marking your digital calendars now. Most phone calendars only sync a few years out, so you might have to manually scroll to 2029 to "anchor" the date. If you're a heavy traveler, set a reminder for March 2029 to start looking at airline loyalty programs and points redemption—early Thanksgiving years mean high demand for "saver" awards, and those get snatched up exactly 330 days in advance. Finally, if you're in charge of a corporate calendar or school board, note that the week of November 19-23 will be the primary holiday block, which is earlier than the standard "late November" slump.