If you’re staring at your calendar and feeling a bit turned around, don't worry—you aren't alone. Honestly, trying to pin down the exact day to start brining the turkey feels like a moving target every single November.
So, let's get the big question out of the way immediately. When is Thanksgiving this year 2024? Thanksgiving 2024 falls on Thursday, November 28.
It is officially the latest possible date the holiday can ever occur. Because the month started on a Friday, we had to wait through four full weeks to get there. If you feel like the wait is longer than usual, you’re right. It’s basically the "final boss" of Novembers.
Why is Thanksgiving This Year 2024 So Late?
Most of us grew up hearing that Thanksgiving is "the last Thursday of the month." While that’s sort of true most of the time, it’s not the actual law.
In 2024, November has five Thursdays. If we went by the "last Thursday" rule, we’d be eating pumpkin pie on November 30. But back in 1941, Congress stepped in to fix the chaos of the "Franksgiving" era. They legally mandated that Thanksgiving must be the fourth Thursday of November.
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Because the first Thursday of 2024 didn't land until November 7, the math pushed the fourth Thursday all the way to the 28th. This gives us the shortest possible Christmas shopping season—only 26 days until the big morning in December. Retailers are probably sweating, but for the rest of us, it just means a few more days to procrastinate on buying that decorative centerpiece.
The Weird History of "Franksgiving"
Believe it or not, we used to have "two Thanksgivings." During the Great Depression in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to move the holiday up a week. He wanted to give people more time to shop and boost the economy.
People were livid.
Critics called it "Franksgiving." Some governors flat-out ignored him, meaning if you lived in Connecticut but worked in New York, you might have ended up with two different days off—or none at all. It took a literal Act of Congress in December 1941 to settle the debate once and for all. Since then, it’s been the fourth Thursday, no exceptions.
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What to Expect for Your 2024 Celebration
Since the date is so late, the "holiday creep" is going to feel more intense. You’ve probably already seen Christmas lights going up before the stuffing is even out of the oven.
The Grocery Bill Breakdown
There’s some decent news regarding your wallet. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average cost of a 10-person Thanksgiving feast in 2024 is roughly $58.08.
That’s actually a 5% drop from last year. Turkeys, specifically, have seen a price dip of about 6% compared to 2023. However, don't get too excited—processed goods like dinner rolls and canned pumpkin are up about 8% because of labor and packaging costs.
Travel Chaos Levels
If you’re planning to hit the road or the skies, prepare for a crowd. AAA is predicting that 2024 might see record-breaking travel numbers because of the late date. Everyone is cramming their trips into that tiny window between late November and late December.
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The busiest travel day? It’s almost always the Tuesday and Wednesday before the 28th. If you can swing a Monday flight, your blood pressure will thank you.
Surprising Thanksgiving Facts Most People Miss
- The Turkey’s Speed: A wild turkey can actually run up to 25 miles per hour. Domestic ones? Not so much.
- The First Menu: There’s no evidence they even had turkey at the 1621 feast. It was likely venison, swan, and—get this—eel.
- The TV Dinner Connection: In 1953, Swanson had 260 tons of leftover turkey after the holiday. An enterprising salesman decided to package it with peas and potatoes in aluminum trays. Boom. The TV dinner was born.
Making the Most of the Late Date
Because when is Thanksgiving this year 2024 lands so late, you basically have zero "buffer time" before December 1st.
You’ve got to be strategic. If you wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving to start your holiday shopping or decorating, you’re already behind. My advice? Get your "To-Do" list handled by the 15th.
Your 2024 Game Plan:
- Check your guest count by November 10. This determines the size of the bird.
- Buy your dry goods early. Grab the flour, sugar, and canned goods now before the shelves look like a ghost town.
- Defrosting is a science. If you buy a frozen 20-pounder, it needs a full four to five days in the fridge. Don't be the person trying to thaw a turkey in a bathtub on Thanksgiving morning.
The 2024 season is going to be a sprint, not a marathon. With the holiday landing on the 28th, the transition into the New Year is going to feel like a blur. Take a breath, enjoy the extra week of "fall" vibes before the winter rush, and remember that at the end of the day, it's just about the people around the table.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your freezer space today to ensure you have room for a turkey. If you are traveling, book your return trip for the Monday after the 28th to avoid the highest airport surges and most expensive tickets.