Happy Thanksgiving 2025: parade start time, NFL games, what’s open today, and last-minute tips

Thanksgiving Day has arrived—Thursday, November 27, 2025—and millions are celebrating with parades, football, family tables, and record holiday travel. Here’s your quick guide to what’s happening today, from the parade start time to this year’s NFL triple-header, plus what’s open if you’ve forgotten foil, stock, or pie crust.

Thanksgiving Day parade: start time, route, and what to expect

The 99th edition of the iconic Thanksgiving Day parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. ET and runs until noon. The route begins on the Upper West Side at West 77th Street and Central Park West, heads along the park, turns near 59th Street, and proceeds down Sixth Avenue to Herald Square. On-street viewing is available along much of Sixth Avenue; the immediate finish area has restricted public viewing due to TV production setups.

New balloons and floats join returning favorites this year, with dozens of giant character balloons, bands, and performance stops planned. Winds are light enough for the balloons to fly, and crowd control/road closures are in effect along and around the route—arrive early if you’re going in person.

NFL on Thanksgiving 2025: today’s triple-header (US/UK times)

Three games stretch from midday into the evening:

• 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. GMT — Packers at Lions

• 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT / 9:30 p.m. GMT — Chiefs at Cowboys

• 8:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. PT / 1:20 a.m. GMT (Fri) — Bengals at Ravens

Check your TV provider or streaming app’s listings for channels in your area. Expect extensive pregame and postgame coverage around each kickoff.

What’s open on Thanksgiving Day (typical hours; local variations apply)

Many large general-merchandise and department stores are closed all day and reopen early Friday. Essentials-focused outlets often keep limited hours:

• Grocery chains and regional markets: Frequently 6–4/5 or 7–2 (local differences are common; prepared foods sell out early).

• Natural/organic grocers: Often 7–2.

• Dollar stores: Many operate 8–5/6; participation varies by location.

• Pharmacies: Selected locations open with reduced front-store hours; pharmacy counters may be closed or on limited service.

• Coffee shops & quick bites: Many run morning schedules only.

Some states restrict Thanksgiving retail operations; local laws may limit which stores can open and which services they can offer.

Travel today: busiest corridors, timing, and airport tips

Holiday travel is setting fresh records this week, with tens of millions on the move by road and well over a dozen million projected to pass through airport checkpoints across the extended period. If you’re flying today:

• Arrive early. Lines at security ebb midday but can surge in the late afternoon and evening.

• Carry-on smart. Keep meds, chargers, and essentials in your personal item; winter weather can ripple through connections.

• Watch Sunday. The post-holiday return is typically the single busiest screening day of the period—build in extra time.

Driving? Expect lighter volumes during the early morning and late evening today; midday around kickoff times can also see brief relief on some routes.

Weather snapshot and parade conditions

A shot of colder air is sliding across parts of the country, but New York City conditions are favorable for the parade window, with winds light enough to keep balloons aloft. Elsewhere, travelers should keep an eye on changing temperatures and a pair of storm systems tracking across the middle of the nation into the weekend.

Last-minute hosting checklist (15-minute rescue)

• Kitchen: Foil, butter, stock, ice, paper towels, storage containers, oven thermometer.

• Table: Extra chairs, trivets, serving spoons, a sharp carving knife, to-go containers for guests.

• Tech: Fully charge phones and speakers; download playlists in case Wi-Fi gets crowded.

• Safety: Clear walkways, keep potholders by the stove, and store a small fire extinguisher within reach.

• Timing: If the bird needs a boost, tent with foil and finish the last 30 minutes uncovered to crisp the skin.

Grateful moments, big and small

Whether you’re watching the floats glide down Sixth Avenue, locking into the afternoon kickoff, or pulling a golden pie from the oven, here’s to a warm, safe holiday. Happy Thanksgiving—and if you’re heading out for a forgotten ingredient, go early, be patient, and double-check those holiday hours before you go.