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Travis Pittman of Wayne County, North Carolina, had the honor of raising Gobble and Waddle — the two turkeys selected to be pardoned by President Trump. Ed O’Keefe reports.
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contributed to this report.
Tag: Thanksgiving
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Thanksgiving parade 2024 balloon inflation: Where to see in person in NYC Wednesday
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For spectators who want to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons without the same crowds (and rain) that are likely on Thursday, the balloon inflation on Wednesday afternoon is always a popular option.
The holiday season really kicks off when the massive helium balloons start floating through New York. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade — one year away from its 100th birthday — this year will feature 32 balloons, 3 hot air balloons, 27 floats, 4 special units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, performance groups and the biggest stars in music, all welcoming Santa Claus and the holiday season.
The balloon inflation is a fan-favorite, family-friendly kickoff to the parade, the day before the bands and balloons start their Thursday morning march down Central Park West.
When is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 26 from 1 to 6 p.m.
The line for public viewing will open at 12 p.m.
Where is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation takes place on the Upper West Side outside of the Museum of Natural History between West 77th and West 81st Streets.
How can I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation?
NBC 4 New York will present a special program reporting live on the balloon inflation at 2 p.m. ET on the NBC 4 New York streaming channel wherever you stream, or in the NBC New York app.
Where do I go for the balloon inflation?
Spectators can enter the line at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. Entry closes at 6 p.m.
What streets are closed for the balloon inflation?
Central Park West will be closed from West 72nd Street to West 86th Street through 12 p.m. on Thursday.
West 72nd Street to West 85th Street will be closed from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue through 12 p.m. on Thursday.
The 79th Street Transverse will be closed through 12 p.m. on Thursday.
In less than a week, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will march down Sixth Avenue in front of thousands of people from around the world. The finishing touches are being put in place. NBC News 4 New York’s Gilma Avalos reports.
When is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.
What time does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade starts at 8:30 a.m.
How long does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade run?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade runs until 12 p.m. on Thursday.
Where does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
The parade begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:30 a.m.
Have you ever wondered how the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began? Join NBC New York’s Jennifer Vázquez on a historical dive of the beloved event and how immigrant communities helped create this tradition.
What is the route of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The parade starts on the Upper West Side at West 77th Street and Central Park West.
The balloons, floats and bands will then run along Central Park West from West 77th Street to West 59th Street. It will go around Columbus Circle and east on Central Park South.
From Central Park South, the parade will turn down 6th Avenue. The parade will run down 6th Avenue to Macy’s Herald Square on West 34th Street.
Where are the best spots to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade?
Spectators can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along much of the route.
Some spots to consider viewing include Central Park West between West 60th and West 77th Streets, Central Park South, or on 6th Avenue between West 38th Streets and Central Park South.
There are a few areas that do not allow public viewing including:
- West 77th Street and Central Park West (starting point)
- Central Park West between West 59th and West 60th Streets
- Columbus Circle
- 6th Avenue between West 34th & West 38th Streets
- West 34th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues
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NBC New York Staff
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A New Way to Ruin Thanksgiving: Making AI Slop Recipes
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Remember when people started asking AI tools for cooking advice, and it wound up telling them to do things like use glue to get cheese to stick on pizza? Well, people are apparently relying on that same technology to guide them through cooking this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, so many are doing so that Bloomberg reports it’s putting a real dent in the views of recipe writers who usually see traffic spike this time of year.
The problem is effectively the same one that led to Google previously recommending that people eat one rock per day: AI Overviews in Search. They provide users with a quick panel that pulls out all of the “relevant information” without requiring them to click through to a website and scroll through the admittedly annoying 2,000-word personal essay that precedes every recipe ever posted online.
This creates two issues. The first is for the recipe authors, who have put actual work—from their collected knowledge of food to the effort of prep work to the trial and error to get the final product just right—into the recipes they share. They’re getting their traffic siphoned off by the AI Overviews. Creators that Bloomberg spoke with said their traffic was down between 40% to 80% this year from previous Thanksgivings. That’s in line with the experience of other sites, too, which have reported as much as 80% declines in click-throughs since AI Overviews became more prominent.
The second problem is for people making the recipes, because there is a very real chance that they are getting bad information. Here’s the thing about AI summaries of anything: it doesn’t actually understand what it is reading. All it can do is spit back what it thinks is relevant. That’s kind of a big deal for cooking, where little errors can ruin a dish. For instance, Bloomberg talked to one cook who has a popular Christmas cake recipe. On the creator’s page for the recipe, it suggests baking it at 160°C (that’s 320°F) for an hour and a half. An AI-summarized version of that recipe recommends you bake it for three to four hours—more than twice as long. You don’t have to know a whole lot about baking to know that’s not going to turn out great.
AI-generated recipes have become a whole micro-industry. If you hop on any social platform and go looking for ideas of what to cook, there’s a good chance you’ll land on a page that looks like your standard cooking inspiration fare—but you might notice that the recipes just aren’t quite right. Best-case scenario, you’ll probably end up with a relatively bland but perfectly fine dish. Worst case, you might end up burning down your house because somewhere in the black hole that is a large language model, it decided that you should put your tinfoil-wrapped fish in the microwave on high.
Maybe grab one of those old cookbooks off the shelf this holiday season just to be safe.
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AJ Dellinger
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RTD’s A Line to Denver International Airport delayed because of signal issues
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Travelers heading to and from Denver International Airport on the Regional Transportation District’s A Line train will see up to 30-minute delays because of a signal problem, agency officials said Tuesday.
RTD canceled 24 trips and said the train is now running every 30 minutes, with eastbound trains leaving Union Station at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour.
The westbound train from the airport into Union Station will leave at 12 minutes and 42 minutes past the hour. Updated service alerts are available online.
Transportation officials reported the signal problem just before 10:30 a.m.
DIA is expecting more than 845,000 passengers to pass through security during the Thanksgiving season and Tuesday will likely be one of the busiest days.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
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Katie Langford
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A RealClear Thanksgiving | RealClearPolitics
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Thanksgiving is a seasonal, needed reminder of the promise and reality of America – on which we celebrate our nation’s shared, uniting holiday of gratitude.
We the People are not doing well. We are divided, angry, and house-poor. That said, whether you are liberal, conservative, progressive, or MAGA, we all have much – by any real, clear metric – to be thankful for and much that’s deserving of our collective, bipartisan celebration, cherishing, and defense. We are a better and more united people when we look up in shared gratitude.
If you are an American – poor, middle class, or rich – there is still an “Unum,” part principle and part shared experience, which connects the American “Pluribus” and our varied pursuits of happiness.
Regardless of your own familial origin story, there remains a shared American truth and reality: “We the People” are all born on third base compared to the rest of the world, and it’s not because we hit a triple.
This country is special. It remains special. Whatever our problems, we still have much to be thankful for and reasons to rise above our differences and unite in a common good for civic defense.
On a personal note, I am thankful that I am going to be a grandfather soon. A new chapter in our family’s American story will begin in the new year of our country’s 250th year. Having grandkids reminds us to keep our eyes on defending the prize.
Civically and professionally, I am giving thanks for RealClear’s readers and supporters.
I write this Thanksgiving note, having come back from a lunch with one of you – someone who exemplifies our audience and patrons. Smart, accomplished, and discerning. You represent thoughtful citizenship at its best. These getting-to-know-you conversations with RealClear readers inspire us.
Most of my meetings are with reader-supporters over Zoom, which provide daily bounces in our team’s steps. (If you are interested in having one, reach out to our advancement coordinator, Frank Filocomo [frank@realclear.com], and he will set one up. We truly enjoy it.)
This one was in-person and ennobling. I broke bread with a U.S. Navy pilot who flew 85 combat missions in Vietnam. On his return, he had to test fate again by landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier in hostile waters. After the war, he made his fortune on Wall Street, retired to Florida, and dedicated himself to public service as our local county commissioner. Thank you, Hal. You are a great American, and we are thankful to count you among RealClear’s faithful readers and steadfast supporters.
For the rest of you: Come to our Samizdat Prize Gala on Feb. 11, 2026, and I will introduce you to Hal.
* * * * *
For the past 10 years, it has been hard to be RealClear.
Our advertising revenue has been attacked because our viewpoint-diversity journalism – the kind that encourages Americans to think for themselves – offends the smug sensibilities of the self-appointed censors who prefer monologues managed to their liking. But we know that healthy democracy requires open dialogue. We went hungry when our business model was ambushed and we remain hungry, but, because of you, we did not starve as intended. Thank you.
My job at RealClear is Sisyphean in structure. I apologize for talking Greek. Please indulge me for a moment. Sisyphus’ curse was that he had to push a rock up a hill, with no hope of getting to the top and enjoying a level roll. It’s not a life for everyone, but we – with your funding at our back – have found both purpose and joy in it.
What would happen if Sisyphus didn’t show up for work? What would happen if RealClear simply quit? For us, giving up on presenting an array of viewpoints and keeping polling accurate and honest is not an option. Defeat is a possibility but surrender is not. Because of you, we will continue to push the viewpoint-diversity rock up a hill, and we’ll keep doing so joyfully. Thank you.
We could not do it alone. RealClear exists, still consequentially positioned on the “hill” of viewpoint diversity because of you. What others have taken away, or tried to sideline, our reader-supporters like you have preserved. And our country is better for it.
It pays to be partisan in today’s media landscape. But we’re still pushing against the ideological, closed-minded, censorious grain. If you are a past supporter, stay with us. Or, if you are reading this and haven’t given before, please consider joining us as a reader-supporter. Click here: www.realclearmediafund.org/donate.
Thank you for your past support and present consideration. We don’t take your support for granted. We hope you consider independent and unbiased news coverage as vital as we do. Our need for your support is real and enduring, as is our thanks.
Sincerely,
David DesRosiers
President
RealClear Media FundP.S. To make a tax-deductible donation, please click here: www.realclearmediafund.org/donate/
P.P.S. You can also support RealClear by incorporating us in your estate plan. Some of you out there may be disappointed and feel let down by your alma mater. If this is you – and you want to advance viewpoint diversity, sanity, and accurate and honest polling for years to come – please consider making a planned gift to RealClear Media Fund. To discuss this with us, please contact our advancement coordinator, Frank Filocomo at: frank@realclear.com.
P.P.P.S. Again, we love talking to our readers. If you’d like to set up a conversation, Frank is the man for that as well.
David DesRosiers is the publisher of RealClearMedia and president of the RealClear Media Fund, which supports the cause of free speech through its annual Samizdat Prize, and its reporting, and the viewpoint diversity method.
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David DesRosiers, RealClear Media Fund
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Thanksgiving forecast: Will Valley fog linger for holiday travel?
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Thanksgiving forecast: Will Valley fog linger for holiday travel?
Whether you’re traveling or welcoming company for Thanksgiving, the KCRA 3 weather team is sharing details on the forecast across the state.
NUMBERS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL MAP HERE. AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE SPOTS THAT MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES FOR US TODAY. NOW WE DO HAVE RAIN SHOWERS IN PARTS OF ARKANSAS AND TEXAS, IOWA AS WELL. AND THEN SNOW COMING DOWN IN PARTS OF MONTANA. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WIDER VIEW OF FUTURECAST. AND YOU CAN SEE AS WE HEAD TOWARD TOMORROW, SOME OF THE AREAS THAT MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES WEATHER WISE WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL UP AROUND MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE THEY’LL BE SEEING SNOW SHOWERS, THEN OVER TOWARD NEW YORK, PITTSBURGH, PHILADELPHIA WILL BE SEEING SOME RAIN SHOWERS. ALSO AROUND ATLANTA AND EVEN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, EXPECTING TO SEE SOME ACTIVE WEATHER HERE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. NOW FOR TUESDAY, THAT RAIN STARTS TO SWITCH OVER TO SNOW IN THE GREAT LAKES. WE’LL STILL SEE SOME RAIN SHOWERS IN PARTS OF GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. MORE RAIN SHOWERS AROUND PORTLAND AS WELL. AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS WE HEAD TOWARD THANKSGIVING DAY, LAKE EFFECT SNOW FOR CLEVELAND AND BUFFALO PARTS OF MICHIGAN THERE AS WELL. AND THEN OF COURSE, MORE ACTIVE WEATHER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. BUT HERE AT HOME, IT’S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. TAMARA. YEAH, I’M NOT SURPRISED YOU SAID CLEVELAND. I HAVE SEEN SOME SNOWY THANKSGIVINGS THERE, AND YEAH, IT JUST COMES REALLY, YOU KNOW, OUT OF OUT OF THE AREA. AND IT’S THAT COLD AIR THAT COMES IN AND THAT LAKE EFFECT BANDING, WHICH CAN BE TROUBLESOME FOR TRAVEL THERE ACROSS PARTS OF THE MIDWEST FORECAST HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING A FEW MORE CLOUDS ROLL IN FOR THANKSGIVING, BUT GREAT CONDITIONS FOR RUN TO FEED THE HUNGRY OR TRAVEL. AND WE’RE GOING TO HOLD WITH THAT PATTERN. IT’S GOING TO STAY DRY WITH JUST A FEW CLOUDS AROUND FRIDAY. BUT THIS SYSTEM, JUST TO THE NORTH IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO WORK ITS WAY IN AND DEEPEN OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, WITH POTENTIAL FOR SOME WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY STARTING LIKELY ON SATURDAY. SO I’VE GOT THAT NOTED HERE IN THE FOOTHILLS IN THE SIERRA FORECAST THE REST OF THE WEEK, THOUGH, IS DRY. WE’VE GOT TEMPERATURES STAYING IN THAT LOW 60S RANGE MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND THE MORNINGS IN THE 40S WHERE WE COULD SEE EACH MORNING POTENTIALLY SOME PATCHY FOG AND THEN KEEP AN EYE TO THE FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEKEND. WE COULD HAVE SOME SHOWERS AROUND THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AROUND SATURDAY, POTENTIALLY COULD SEE A FEW LEFTOVER SHOWERS SUNDAY
Thanksgiving forecast: Will Valley fog linger for holiday travel?
Whether you’re traveling or welcoming company for Thanksgiving, the KCRA 3 weather team is sharing details on the forecast across the state.
Updated: 10:21 AM PST Nov 25, 2025
Thanksgiving is now just a few days away and the KCRA 3 weather team is expecting little change in the current weather pattern through the holiday.Low clouds and fog will continue to be stubborn for the Valley Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Those making a long drive at elevations below 1,000 feet should expect changing visibility conditions each day. The National Weather Service office in Sacramento has issued another Dense Fog Advisory which will be in effect for the entire Central Valley from midnight to 11 a.m. Tuesday.On Thanksgiving Day, expect morning lows in the upper 40s in the Valley. Because of the low clouds, Valley temperatures will stay in the upper 50s. The Foothills will be around 60 degrees. Sierra temperatures will peak in the upper 50s. Higher altitude clouds will be increasing for the entire region throughout the day. Looking beyond, unsettled weather may return after the holiday—a weather system may bring a chance for light rain and snow showers late Saturday following Thanksgiving. As of Tuesday morning, the forecast models for our region show this system tracking a little farther to our east. If this pattern holds, areas like Tahoe and Sacramento will likely stay dry through the weekend. The KCRA Weather Team continues to keep a close eye on your Turkey Day forecast. Continue to check in with us for the latest updates. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Thanksgiving is now just a few days away and the KCRA 3 weather team is expecting little change in the current weather pattern through the holiday.
Low clouds and fog will continue to be stubborn for the Valley Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Those making a long drive at elevations below 1,000 feet should expect changing visibility conditions each day.
The National Weather Service office in Sacramento has issued another Dense Fog Advisory which will be in effect for the entire Central Valley from midnight to 11 a.m. Tuesday.
On Thanksgiving Day, expect morning lows in the upper 40s in the Valley. Because of the low clouds, Valley temperatures will stay in the upper 50s. The Foothills will be around 60 degrees. Sierra temperatures will peak in the upper 50s.
Higher altitude clouds will be increasing for the entire region throughout the day.
Looking beyond, unsettled weather may return after the holiday—a weather system may bring a chance for light rain and snow showers late Saturday following Thanksgiving. As of Tuesday morning, the forecast models for our region show this system tracking a little farther to our east. If this pattern holds, areas like Tahoe and Sacramento will likely stay dry through the weekend.
The KCRA Weather Team continues to keep a close eye on your Turkey Day forecast. Continue to check in with us for the latest updates.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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Maps show where storms threaten Thanksgiving travel across the U.S.
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A spate of winter weather is threatening travel around the Thanksgiving holiday, with rain, snow and powerful winds forecast to roll through the middle of the country this week.
There are two systems bringing soggy and wintry conditions to different parts of the United States on Tuesday, according CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan. One will carry wet weather over the Ohio Valley before reaching the Northeast later in the day, while the second is expected to produce strong winds and heavy snowfall across a northern band of the Midwest, from the Plains through the Great Lakes, through Wednesday.
Nikki Nolan/CBS News
Winter storm warnings were in effect for parts of North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In Grand Forks, North Dakota, a winter storm warning was set to remain in place through Tuesday night, and forecasters said the region could expect to see up to 6 inches of snow accumulate, along with winds as high as 35 mph.
In the Twin Cities, the National Weather Service office warned early Tuesday that snowfall rates in the region were already exceeding 1 inch per hour, and gusty winds of up to 45 mph could cause blizzards.
Twin Cities residents were bracing for the latter portion of a two-part storm that initially arrived Monday evening with rainfall and was expected to bring rain and snowfall through Wednesday, CBS Minnesota reported. The area could see up to 5 inches of snow by Wednesday morning, with some places forecast to receive as much as 8 inches.
Nikki Nolan/CBS News
Chicago was experiencing mild weather Tuesday morning and preparing for a bout of light rain and fog through Wednesday, when a cold front is expected to move through the area, CBS Chicago reported. Temperatures will likely drop below freezing on Thanksgiving and remain low into Friday.
Parts of upstate New York were experiencing powerful winds on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Meanwhile, downstate areas, including New York City, were preparing for rainfall later in the day, potentially hampering travel in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. Cold temperatures and blustery winds were expected to settle in on Thursday, CBS New York reported.
Nikki Nolan/CBS News
The impacts of this week’s winter weather will be most severe in areas closest to the Canadian border, where some places could receive 20 or 30 inches of snow, Nolan said, adding that high winds across the upper Midwest could potentially reach 40 mph, with even stronger gusts. That could possible interrupt travel along major interstates, including I-29, I-90 and I-94, as well as major airports in Chicago, Duluth, Fargo, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Pierre, South Dakota.
Along with New York City, a handful of metropolitan areas were expecting rain, including Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Nolan said the rain could cause delays for drivers traveling along I-20, I-40, I-65, I-75 and I-95, in addition to air travelers at airports in the cities expecting rain, as well as Indianapolis and Memphis.
A number of airports that could be affected are expecting huge crowds around the upcoming holiday. In Chicago, for example, airports are anticipating about 3.6 million passengers this week, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
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The White House’s history with Thanksgiving, and how the turkey pardon came to be
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Two turkeys are traveling Tuesday from the posh Willard Hotel to the White House, becoming the latest turkeys to be pardoned by an American president in a tradition that officially dates back to President George H.W. Bush.
The history of White House Thanksgiving traditions date back more than 160 years to President Abraham Lincoln, who established the national holiday.
During his time in office, Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of Thanksgiving, triumphing over similar efforts of presidents who came before him, according to the National Park Service.
The official designation of the annual national holiday is due, in part, to writer Sarah Josepha Hale. The NPS notes that in 1827 — as editor of “Boston’s Ladies Magazine” — Hale began writing essays calling for the national holiday. Finally, on Sept. 18, 1863, she wrote to Lincoln asking him to use his presidential powers to create the holiday.
Lincoln obliged and a few weeks later, on Oct. 3, 1863 — during the height of the Civil War — he issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation. Ever since, the country has celebrated Thanksgiving Day.
But it wasn’t until after a bill passed by Congress on Dec. 26, 1941, that made the holiday fall annually on the fourth Thursday in November.
Thanksgiving at the White House is usually relatively quiet and includes the tradition of pardoning lucky turkeys from their doomed fate of the dinner table.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
Presidential turkey pardons
The first turkey pardon ever issued is believed to have been by Lincoln as recorded by White House reporter Noah Brooks in an 1865 dispatch, according to the White House Historical Association.
Lincoln had granted clemency to a turkey named Jack belonging to his son Tad Lincoln, that had originally been slated to be gobbled up at the family’s Christmas dinner in 1863.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
But the annual practice in which the White House sent pardoned presentation turkeys to a farm to live out their days did not occur until Ronald Reagan’s presidency in the 1980s, the WHHA says. In decades prior, presidents would occasionally receive turkeys from the poultry industry and decide not to eat them without an official pardon.
The WHHA notes the practice of sending presentation turkeys to the president became a norm in 1981, and the pardoning ceremonies quickly became a national sensation. By 1989, the annual tradition materialized with President George H.W. Bush — as documented by the association — speaking to the pardoned turkey, saying the line his successors still reprise at ceremonies today: “He’s granted a presidential pardon as of right now.”
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
On Tuesday, President Trump will be presented with two turkeys, Waddle and Gobble, from the National Turkey Federation.
Gathering with family and friends
Aside from the turkey pardoning spectacle, presidents spend Thanksgiving in the same fashion as households across the country.
The first documented Thanksgiving gathering at the White House dates back to Nov. 28, 1878, according to the WHHA. Then-President Rutherford B. Hayes held a large Thanksgiving dinner gathering with his family and private secretaries, singing hymns in the Red Room afterward and inviting African-American staff to enjoy their own Thanksgiving meal in the State Dining Room.
The tradition has since withstood the test of time. Through economic hardship and times of wars, presidents have carved out time for family. The WHHA notes that President Woodrow Wilson’s first Thanksgiving meal during World War I on Nov. 29, 1917, was an economical one — and one without cranberries.
In recent decades, presidents have taken to the tradition of celebrating the holiday outside the White House at their so-called “go-to” vacation spots. President Ronald Reagan in 1985 traveled to the family ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
Mr. Trump will be traveling to Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, as he did nearly every Thanksgiving in his first term. Former President Joe Biden, meanwhile, traveled to Nantucket over the weekend, per his daughter’s Instagram, a Biden family tradition for over 40 years.
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Turkey pardons offer holiday ritual during precarious moment for Trump
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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to bestow ceremonial pardons on two turkeys and fly to his private Florida resort on Tuesday to celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday interlude during what has been a turbulent and uncertain chapter of his second term.
Waddle and Gobble, the two birds that will be spared from the dinner table, enjoyed luxury hotel accommodations ahead of their White House visit. The turkey pardon is a presidential tradition dating back years.
However, Thanksgiving may not provide Trump with much political respite after Democrats won sweeping victories in New Jersey, Virginia and elsewhere earlier this month. Some research indicates that holiday meals could cost more this year, despite the president’s insistence otherwise, a reminder of persistent frustration with elevated prices.
Meanwhile, Trump is struggling to advance a plan to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine after an earlier version faced swift criticism from European allies and even some Republicans. The U.S. military is also poised to target Venezuela with military strikes, part of an anti-drug operation that could ultimately destabilize the country’s leadership.
In Washington, Trump faces the possibility of a splintering Republican coalition ahead of next year’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Some members of his party already took the rare step of crossing the president by successfully pushing legislation to force the Justice Department to release more documents about the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Trump faced a setback in court this week when a federal judge tossed cases against James Comey and Letitia James, two targets of the president’s retribution campaign.
Comey, a former FBI director whom Trump fired during his first term, was charged with making a false statement and obstructing Congress. James, the New York attorney general who investigated the president between his two terms, was charged with mortgage fraud.
Both pleaded not guilty and said the prosecutions were politically motivated, pointing to Trump’s public demands for the Justice Department to punish his enemies.
The judge said the interim U.S. attorney, a former member of Trump’s personal legal team, who obtained the indictments was illegally appointed. However, the decision was made without prejudice, so the Justice Department could try again to charge Comey and James.
All of the latest developments contribute to a moment of frenetic activity for the White House, which would normally be settling in for a quiet and festive holiday season.
However, despite the traditional arrival of a Christmas tree on Monday, the presidential residence will be much different this year. Although holiday tours are expected to continue, Trump’s decision to demolish the building’s East Wing to make room for a new ballroom has turned part of the White House grounds into a construction site.
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What’s open, what’s closed for Thanksgiving 2025 in the DC region – WTOP News
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Thanksgiving lands on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Here’s what you need to know about what’s open and closed across the D.C. region.
Thanksgiving will (probably) gobble up your Thursday — and whether you’re traveling, cooking or trying to pick up a last-minute ingredient, here’s what you need to know about what’s open and closed across the D.C. region.
Government and schools
Federal, state and local government offices in D.C., Maryland and Virginia will be closed Thursday in observance of the holiday.
D.C.-area school systems will also be closed, with most schools reopening by Monday, Dec. 1.
Mail and shipping
The U.S. Postal Service will not deliver regular mail on Thanksgiving. Expect only Priority Mail Express deliveries.
UPS and FedEx will operate limited or no services depending on the category. Check carrier-specific holiday schedules.
Banks
Most major banks — including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Truist, PNC and Capital One — will be closed Thursday.
Grocery stores
If you need a last-minute pickup, many grocery stores are operating — but with sharply reduced hours.
Open (hours vary by location):
- Whole Foods Market: Open with modified hours; many locations closing early.
- Harris Teeter: Open; many stores closing around mid-afternoon.
- Food Lion: Open, often 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Dollar General: Open with adjusted holiday hours.
- Family Dollar: Many stores open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Safeway: Open with modified hours.
Closed:
- Walmart
- Target
- Costco
- Trader Joe’s
- Aldi
- Lidl
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Kroger Pharmacies
Most closures are part of chain-wide holiday policies for 2025.
Retail
Large retailers and department stores across the D.C. region continue the trend of staying closed on Thanksgiving Day. Expect Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy and most malls to keep their doors shut until Black Friday.
Some in-store pharmacies and convenience stores may be open, but with reduced hours. Check your specific location.
Restaurants
Restaurant hours vary widely. National chains, such as Golden Corral or IHOP, may keep select locations open, but many independent restaurants close for the holiday.
Call ahead, or double check with OpenTable listings for your area.
Parking services and traffic
DC
All parking enforcement will be suspended Thursday and Friday. You don’t need to feed the meter.
Transit
Here’s how to get around the region on Thanksgiving:
Metrorail
- Operates on a weekend late night schedule.
- System runs approximately 6 a.m. to midnight.
- Regular operations resume Friday, Nov. 29.
- First and last trains vary by station; riders should check WMATA’s trip planner.
Metrobus
- Runs a Sunday schedule across the region.
- Regular operations to resume Friday, Nov. 29.
Parking at Metro stations
Metro-owned garages and lots are typically free on Thanksgiving. WMATA has not issued a 2025 exception.
Maryland
The MARC train won’t provide service on Thanksgiving. For Black Friday, trains will operate on a Saturday schedule for the Penn Line only. No Brunswick or Camden line service.
Local bus services will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule for Thursday. However, commuter bus operations will not run Thursday and Friday, except for Route 201, which will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule on both days.
The Light Rail service will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule Thursday.
Anne Arundel County
There will be no service on the Anne Arundel bus lines. For Friday, only the following routes will be in service: 201, 202, 203 and the BWI Express.
Free parking in downtown Annapolis at metered spaces between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
Montgomery County
Ride On Bus, including Ride On extRa (pink and lime), will operate on a Sunday schedule for Thanksgiving.
Flash bus service will operate Thursday on weekend and holiday schedule for the Orange Route, as the Blue Route not be in service. Both Blue and Orange routes will operate on a regular weekday service on Friday.
Fees will not be enforced Thursday for any public parking garages, lots and curbside meters. Payments will resume Friday.
Prince George’s County
TheBus will not operate on Thursday. Regular operations will resume Friday, except for Route P78.
The Call-A-Bus and PGC Link services will not operate Thursday or Friday. Operations start back up Monday, Dec. 1.
Howard County
Parking fees will not be enforced Thursday, but will in effect Friday.
Virginia
VRE does not have service on Thanksgiving Day.
City of Alexandria
DASH buses will run on a weekend schedule Thursday. Lines 102, 103 and 104 will not run. It will operate regular weekday service Friday.
The King Street Trolley service will run its regular schedule Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Arlington
ART buses 41, 42, 45, 51, 55 and 87 operate on Sunday schedule on Thursday. All other routes are not operating.
On Friday, ART 41, 42, 45, 51, 55, 77 and 87 will operate on Saturday schedules on Friday. All other routes aren’t operating.
Fairfax County
Fairfax Connector will operate on a Sunday service schedule Thursday and a holiday weekday schedule for Friday.
City of Fairfax’s CUE Bus will not have service Thursday. It will have a modified weekday service Friday.
Loudoun County
There won’t be any Loudoun County Transit bus service Thursday.
For Friday, there will be a significantly reduced schedule. See the Transit and Commuter Services webpage for more information.
Prince William County
There won’t be any OmniRide bus service Thursday.
OmniRide Metro Express, OmniRide Local and OmniRide East-West Express will operate regular service on Friday.
DC services
- Trash and recycling collections shift to the following day.
- Recreation centers, libraries and DMV locations are closed.
Maryland and Virginia services
County offices, libraries and courts are closed. Trash collection schedules vary by jurisdiction but generally operate on a holiday slide schedule.
Libraries and recreation centers
DC
D.C. Public Library will open the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The Neighborhood Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Co-located libraries (Rosedale, Northwest One and Deanwood) will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
On Thanksgiving Day, all libraries will be closed.
Recreation centers, community centers and indoor aquatic centers will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Maryland
Libraries will be closing at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and will remain closed Thursday and Friday. Doors will reopen Saturday.
Libraries will be closed Thursday and reopen Friday.
Park facilities and buildings are closed Thursday (parks and trails are always open daily from sunrise to sunset). Community recreation centers will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Libraries are closing at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and will be closed Thursday and Friday, reopening Saturday.
Community and athletic centers are closed Thursday and Friday to the general public.
Prince George’s County
Libraries close at 5 p.m. Wednesday and will remain closed Thursday. Branches will reopen Friday. Community centers are closed Thursday.
Virginia
City of Alexandria
Libraries are closed on Thursday and Friday.
All recreation centers are closed Thursday. On Friday, the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility, Charles Houston Recreation Center, and Patrick Henry Recreation Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All other facilities will be closed.
Arlington
Libraries are closing early at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and will remain closed Thursday and Friday. All community centers are closed Thursday and Friday. However, the Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center will be the sole community center open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.
Fairfax County
Recreation centers are open Thursday from 6 a.m. to noon, and will follow normal operating hours Friday.
Libraries are closed Thursday and Friday.
Prince William County
Libraries will be closed Thursday and Friday.
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Will Vitka
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These 6 kitchen tools can make or break your Thanksgiving dinner
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It’s the start of Thanksgiving week, the time when home cooks across America suddenly recognize the daunting task ahead.More than 90% of people in the U.S. celebrate the food-centric holiday, and more than 1 in 4 attend meals that include more than 10 other people, according to the Pew Research Center.Under that kind of pressure, what host wouldn’t want the best tools to make sure the holiday dinner goes off without a hitch?With that in mind, we asked national food safety experts which kitchen devices and aids are essential to ensure a safe and tasty Thanksgiving meal.Here are their top four suggestions for aids that can make or break your holiday dinner, plus two bonus tips for after the meal: Digital meat thermometerOur panel of experts unanimously agreed that an instant-read digital thermometer is vital to making sure roast turkey and other dishes reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to eliminate the risk of food poisoning from germs like Salmonella and Campylobacter.”This is non-negotiable,” said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University food safety expert. “A reliable thermometer ensures you’re not guessing, because guessing is not a food safety strategy.”Color-coded cutting boardsIn the hustle of a holiday kitchen, the risk of cross-contamination is real. That’s when germs from one food, such as raw turkey, may be spread to other foods, such as fresh vegetables or fruits.It’s best to use dedicated cutting boards for each type of food, and color-coding — red for meat, yellow for poultry, green for veggies — can help, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.”I try not to use wooden cutting boards,” said Kowalcyk, noting that they can retain bacteria that thrive and grow to large enough quantities to cause illness. Sharp knives As an emergency medicine doctor who has stitched up many Thanksgiving injuries, Dr. Tony Cirillo urges home cooks to make sure their kitchen knives are sharp. A sharp knife cuts cleanly, while a dull knife requires more pressure, which can cause dangerous slips, said Cirillo, a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians. Sturdy roasting pansPulling a hot turkey out of the oven is tricky, especially if the pan you cook it in is flimsy, Cirillo added. Use a sturdy metal roasting pan or, in a pinch, stack two foil roasting pans together for strength.”I’m a big fan of double-panning,” Cirillo said. “Dropping the turkey is generally not good on Thanksgiving.”Cooking timer Just as important as getting food to the table is making sure it doesn’t sit out too long, said Don Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University. Use a cooking timer or clock alarm to make sure to pack away leftovers within two hours to prevent bacterial growth that can cause illness.Ruler And when you’re storing those leftovers, make sure to put them in shallow containers, Schaffner said. Measure using a ruler — or even the short side of a credit card — to make sure that dense foods like stuffing and sweet potatoes reach a depth of no more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) to allow for quick and complete cooling in the refrigerator.
It’s the start of Thanksgiving week, the time when home cooks across America suddenly recognize the daunting task ahead.
More than 90% of people in the U.S. celebrate the food-centric holiday, and more than 1 in 4 attend meals that include more than 10 other people, according to the Pew Research Center.
Under that kind of pressure, what host wouldn’t want the best tools to make sure the holiday dinner goes off without a hitch?
With that in mind, we asked national food safety experts which kitchen devices and aids are essential to ensure a safe and tasty Thanksgiving meal.
Here are their top four suggestions for aids that can make or break your holiday dinner, plus two bonus tips for after the meal:
Digital meat thermometer
Our panel of experts unanimously agreed that an instant-read digital thermometer is vital to making sure roast turkey and other dishes reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to eliminate the risk of food poisoning from germs like Salmonella and Campylobacter.
“This is non-negotiable,” said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University food safety expert. “A reliable thermometer ensures you’re not guessing, because guessing is not a food safety strategy.”
Color-coded cutting boards
In the hustle of a holiday kitchen, the risk of cross-contamination is real. That’s when germs from one food, such as raw turkey, may be spread to other foods, such as fresh vegetables or fruits.
It’s best to use dedicated cutting boards for each type of food, and color-coding — red for meat, yellow for poultry, green for veggies — can help, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.
“I try not to use wooden cutting boards,” said Kowalcyk, noting that they can retain bacteria that thrive and grow to large enough quantities to cause illness.
Sharp knives
As an emergency medicine doctor who has stitched up many Thanksgiving injuries, Dr. Tony Cirillo urges home cooks to make sure their kitchen knives are sharp.
A sharp knife cuts cleanly, while a dull knife requires more pressure, which can cause dangerous slips, said Cirillo, a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Sturdy roasting pans
Pulling a hot turkey out of the oven is tricky, especially if the pan you cook it in is flimsy, Cirillo added. Use a sturdy metal roasting pan or, in a pinch, stack two foil roasting pans together for strength.
“I’m a big fan of double-panning,” Cirillo said. “Dropping the turkey is generally not good on Thanksgiving.”
Cooking timer
Just as important as getting food to the table is making sure it doesn’t sit out too long, said Don Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.
Use a cooking timer or clock alarm to make sure to pack away leftovers within two hours to prevent bacterial growth that can cause illness.
Ruler
And when you’re storing those leftovers, make sure to put them in shallow containers, Schaffner said.
Measure using a ruler — or even the short side of a credit card — to make sure that dense foods like stuffing and sweet potatoes reach a depth of no more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) to allow for quick and complete cooling in the refrigerator.
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It’s Thanksgiving week. These are expected to be the busiest travel days.
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It’s a busy week for millions of Americans who are traveling for Thanksgiving.
At the nation’s airports, the TSA expects to screen nearly 18 million people from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Tuesday after the holiday, while the FAA expects this will be the busiest Thanksgiving in terms of flights in at least 15 years.
Most people, however, will be traveling by car. AAA projects that overall, 81.8 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
“This year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record,” it says.
Here is a look at the days that are expected to be the busiest for travelers.
Busiest days for flying
Eight of the busiest days in TSA history have been this year, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving could join that list — or set a new record. The agency is planning to screen more than 3 million travelers on Sunday, Nov. 30, alone.
“We are projecting that the Sunday after Thanksgiving will be one of the busiest travel days in TSA history,” Adam Stahl, senior official performing the duties of deputy TSA administrator, said in a statement.
Airlines for America, a trade association that represents the airlines based in Washington, D.C., also expects the Sunday after Thanksgiving to be the busiest day of this Thanksgiving travel period, with 3.39 million travelers expected.
The group expects the second-busiest day to be Monday, Dec. 1, with 3.09 million travelers, followed by the Friday after Thanksgiving, with 3.06 million travelers.
Overall, Airlines for America predicts that U.S. airlines will fly a record 31 million passengers from Friday, Nov. 21, through Monday, Dec. 1.
The FAA says it expects this Thanksgiving holiday travel period to be the busiest in 15 years, with Tuesday, Nov. 25, being the peak travel day. More than 52,000 flights are expected nationwide on Tuesday.
In the New York area, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey expects that Sunday, Nov. 30, and Monday, Dec. 1, will be the busiest days at the region’s airports: John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia Airport and New York Stewart International.
The expectations for robust — and possibly record-breaking — travel follow disruptions in air travel nationwide during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Some air traffic controllers called out as they were being asked to work without pay, leading to delays and prompting federal authorities to order flight cuts across the nation.
Those cutbacks ended last week, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that “things look good from the air traffic control side. We are back to staffing levels that we had before the shutdown. I believe.”
“if you can still get a ticket and you can still fly and your family still wants to see you, book that ticket, jump on a flight and don’t be afraid to fly this season,” he said.
One family traveling to Las Vegas this weekend wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I was very nervous about it,” Megan Mirka told CBS News at airport baggage claim. “I didn’t want to go, but everyone else did. So we came, and it was good. Whatever changed, I’m glad, ‘cuz this was very different than last month.”
Busiest days for driving
Some would-be flyers might be opting to instead drive to their Thanksgiving destinations because of the uncertainty at airports during the shutdown.
AAA expects that at least 73 million people will travel this year by car – accounting for nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travelers.
That number is 1.3 million more than last year, and “could end up being higher if some air travelers decide to drive instead of fly following recent flight cancellations,” AAA notes.
The Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving are projected to be the most congested for drivers traveling in major metro areas nationwide, according to the transportation analytics firm INRIX. Tuesday from 12-9 p.m. and Wednesday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. are expected to be the “worst” travel times.
“Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day,” INRIX says.
According to AAA, Hertz says Wednesday is expected to be the busiest car-rental pick-up day.
Thanksgiving week weather
Storms this week could impact travel.
One of two cross-country storm systems is taking shape on Monday, bringing heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms across the South. It is forecast to move into the Ohio Valley and Northeast over the next two days, according to Nikki Nolan, meteorologist for CBS News and Stations.
A second, more powerful storm system will deliver cold temperatures and snowfall to the northern U.S. and Great Lakes region. Snow totals could reach up to 14 inches near the Canadian border and the storm could bring high winds across parts of the Northern Plains. This system is expected to move across the Great Lakes through the week and bring lake effect snowfall downwind of Lake Erie and Ontario.
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Stores keep prices down in a tough year for turkeys. Other Thanksgiving foods may cost more
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CHELSEA, Mich. (AP) — Old Brick Farm, where Larry Doll raises chickens, turkeys and ducks, was fortunate this Thanksgiving season.
Doll’s small farm west of Detroit had no cases of bird flu, despite an ongoing outbreak that killed more than 2 million U.S. turkeys in the last three months alone. He also avoided another disease, avian metapneumovirus, which causes turkeys to lay fewer eggs.
“I try to keep the operation as clean as possible, and not bringing other animals in from other farms helps mitigate that risk as well,” said Doll, whose farm has been in his family for five generations.
But Doll still saw the impact as those diseases shrank the U.S. turkey flock to a 40-year low this year. The hatchery where he gets his turkey chicks had fewer available this year. He plans to order another 100 hatchlings soon, even though they won’t arrive until July.
AP AUDIO: Stores keep prices down in a tough year for turkeys. Other Thanksgiving foods may cost more
In an AP interview, Michigan Sate University food economist David Ortega says although turkey prices are forecasted to be 40 percent higher this year than last year, there are bargains to be had.
“If you don’t get your order in early, you’re not going to get it,” he said.
Thanksgiving costs vary
The shrinking population is expected to cause wholesale turkey prices to rise 44% this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite the increase, many stores are offering discounted or even free turkeys to soften the potential blow to Thanksgiving meal budgets. But even if the bird is cheaper than last year, the ingredients to prepare the rest of the holiday feast may not be. Tariffs on imported steel, for example, have increased prices for canned goods.
As of Nov. 17, a basket of 11 Thanksgiving staples — including a 10-pound frozen turkey, 10 Russet potatoes, a box of stuffing and cans of corn, green beans and cranberry sauce – cost $58.81, or 4.1% more than last year, according to Datasembly, a market research company that surveys weekly prices at 150,000 U.S. stores. That’s higher than the average price increase for food eaten at home, which rose 2.7% in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Datasembly showed a 2% decline in the retail price of a 10-pound turkey as of Nov. 17. Pricing out Thanksgiving meals isn’t an exact science, and the firm’s tally differed from other estimates.
The American Farm Bureau Federation, which uses volunteer shoppers in all 50 states to survey prices, reported that Thanksgiving dinner for 10 would cost $55.16 this year, or 5% less than last year. The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, using NielsenIQ data from September, estimated that feeding 10 people on Thursday using store-brand products would cost $80 this year, which is 2% to 3% lower than last year’s estimate.
Tempting turkey prices
Grocery chains are also offering deals to attract shoppers. Discount grocer Aldi is advertising a $40 meal for 10 with 21 items. Kroger said shoppers could feed 10 people for under $50 with its menu of store-brand products.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump touted Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal basket, which he said was 25% cheaper than last year. But that was because Walmart included a different assortment and fewer products overall this year.
“We’re seeing some promotions being implemented in an effort to draw customers into the store,” David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, said.
That’s despite a sharp increase in wholesale turkey prices since August. In the second week of November, frozen 8-16 pound hens were averaging $1.77 per pound, up 81% from the same period last year, according to Mark Jordan, the executive director of Leap Market Analytics, which closely follows the poultry and livestock markets.
Avian viruses are the main culprit. But another reason for turkey’s higher wholesale prices has been an increase in consumer demand as other meats have gotten more expensive, Jordan said. Beef prices were up 14% in September compared to last year, for example.
“For a big chunk of the population, they look at steak cuts and say, ‘I can’t or I don’t want to pay $30 a pound,’” Jordan said.
That’s the case for Paul Nadeau, a retired consultant from Austin, Texas, who plans to smoke a turkey this week. Nadeau said he usually smokes a brisket over Thanksgiving weekend, but the beef brisket he buys would now cost more than $100. Turkey prices are also up at his local H-E-B supermarket, he said, but not by as much.
“I don’t know of anything that’s down in price since last year except for eggs,” Nadeau said.
Tariffs and weather
Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum are also raising prices. Farok Contractor, a distinguished professor of management and global business at the Rutgers Business School, said customers are paying 10 cents to 40 cents more per can when companies pass on the full cost of tariffs.
Tariffs may be partly to blame for the increased cost of jellied cranberry sauce, which was up 38% from last year in Datasembly’s survey. But weather was also a factor. U.S. cranberry production is expected to be down 9% this year, hurt by drought conditions in Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In Illinois, where most of the country’s canning pumpkins are grown, dry weather actually helped pumpkins avoid diseases that are more prevalent in wet conditions, said Raghela Scavuzzo, an associate director of food systems development at the Illinois Farm Bureau and the executive director of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. Datasembly found that a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix cost 5% less than last year.
Frozen turkeys are on display at a Meijer store Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Canton Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) Cans of pumpkin are on display at a Meijer store Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Canton Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) _ Farm to table
Back at Old Brick Farm, which has been in his family since 1864, Doll walked among his turkeys the week before Thanksgiving, patting their heads as they waddled between their warm barn and an open pasture. In a few days, he planned to deliver them to an Amish butcher.
Doll sold all 92 turkeys he raised this year, with customers paying $6.50 per pound for what many tell him is the best turkey they’ve ever tasted. He enjoys a little profit, he said, and the good feeling of supplying a holiday meal.
“I just love it, to think that, you know, not only are we providing them food, but the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.
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Associated Press Video Journalist Mike Householder contributed.
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What to Expect for Michigan Travel on Thanksgiving Week
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Thanksgiving week is here, and with it comes a slew of travel. This week really kicks off the holiday travel season, as millions of people make their way across the United States, and even further, to see family and friends and truly enjoy this time of year. Sure, Thanksgiving brings delicious food, but it’s really all about being with those you love. So, what will travel be like this week?
AAA Releases Their Thanksgiving 2025 Travel Report for the U.S., Including Michigan
For those traveling in our state, expect it to be busy, because more people from this state are expected to be on the road this year. “AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car, that’s nearly 90 percent of Thanksgiving travelers and an additional 1.3 million people on the road compared to last Thanksgiving,” AAA notes in their travel report. They also say that even more people than that could drive, if people decide not to deal with the headache of recent flights being canceled or postponed.
If you’re traveling in Michigan, note that INRIX says that the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving are likely to be the most congested periods to be on the road before the holiday, while the Sunday after Thanksgiving is also supposed to be packed. AAA suggests drivers to be on the road in the morning to avoid the worst backups and to also take into account weather, construction and crashes.
Traveling within the U.S. is also going to be big this season. “This year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record,” AAA notes, adding that, “Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4.” As for flights, 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday week, which marks 2 percent increase compared to last year.
So, what’s the top travel location for the Thanksgiving period in the U.S. According to their research, it’s Orlando, Florida, in the U.S. and Paris, France internationally. Whether you stay in Michigan for the holiday or travel far away, here’s to you having a lovely Thanksgiving. Contact the author with your favorite Thanksgiving vacation ideas.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
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Anne Erickson
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Colorado weather: Will it snow during Thanksgiving travel?
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The hundreds of thousands of Coloradans expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year can expect dry weather and clear skies — at least on their way out, according to the National Weather Service.
No snow is forecast for the Denver area leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, and limited amounts are expected in higher elevations, including on mountain passes, according to weather service forecasters.
Colorado’s highest peaks, including Mount Zirkel in the Park Range of the Rocky Mountains, will see between zero and 8 inches of snow by 5 a.m. Thursday. The most likely snowfall on that mountain is closer to 1 inch, forecasters said.
As of Monday morning, according to the weather service, other snow totals expected by Thursday morning included:
- Trace amounts on Loveland Pass and at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park;
- 0.5 inches on U.S. 40’s Berthoud Pass west of Denver, on Milner Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park and at Winter Park;
- And 1 inch on U.S. 40’s Muddy Pass near Steamboat Springs, Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass near Walden and U.S. 40’s Rabbit Ears Pass near Kremmling.
Most of that snow is expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday morning, and will likely be gone before most travelers hit the roads, rails or air, according to weather service forecasters.
Higher elevations, including Cameron Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass, also have a 20% chance of snow showers before 11 a.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.
Chances for snow will return across Colorado following Thanksgiving Day, and winter weather could intercept many travelers on their way home, according to the weather service.
The amount of snow expected to fall was still up in the air Monday morning, but hourly forecasts from the weather service showed a 40% chance of Denver seeing its first snow of the season over the post-holiday weekend.
At that time, the strongest chance for snow in the Denver area fell between 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday, but snow showers could start as early as 11 p.m. Friday and continue into Sunday night, forecasters said.
Multiple inches of snow are expected to fall on Colorado’s mountain passes starting at about noon on Friday, according to the weather service.
As of Monday morning, the strongest possibility of snow on most of the state’s mountain passes — moving from a 30% to 40% “chance” to “likely” odds of 60% to 80% — was expected to start at 11 a.m. Saturday and continue through Sunday, forecasters said.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 30, will likely be the single busiest day at the Denver airport for holiday travel, with more than 96,000 people expected to pass through security, airport officials said.
A record number of travelers are expected to take trains to travel this year, and millions across the country will hop in the car for a time-honored road trip, according to Amtrak and AAA officials.
It’s unknown how the snow forecast over the weekend will impact trains and planes, but both can be delayed or canceled for extreme winter weather.
Drivers can monitor road conditions — including weather, crashes and closures — online at cotrip.org.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
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Lauren Penington
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Traveling With Cannabis And CBD
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Holiday guide to traveling with cannabis and CBD, microdosing gummies, easing family anxiety, navigating airports smarter.
The holidays are prime travel season — packed airports, crowded train stations and frayed nerves as families reunite. With the stress, what about traveling with cannabis and CBD. After all, they serve alcohol on the plane. For many Americans who use cannabis or CBD medically or recreationally, thoughtful, low-dose strategies — especially microdosing and small edible formats like gummies — can help manage travel stress, ease social anxiety at family gatherings and make transit days calmer. But travel with cannabis remains a patchwork of state and federal rules, and smart planning is essential.
RELATED: How Cannabis Can Help A Family Thanksgiving
Federal law still classifies marijuana as illegal, which means when you pass through a federal checkpoint (airports in particular), you’re technically subject to federal rules. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says officers do not search for marijuana — their primary mission is security — but if illegal substances are discovered during screening, TSA has the option to refer the matter to local law enforcement, although in most states where it is legal is this enforced. Outcomes vary by airport and the laws of the state where you land. International travel with cannabis is always illegal.
Public opinion has shifted dramatically: large recent polls find a vast majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational uses. That cultural shift is one reason airports and some local enforcement have de-prioritized routine marijuana enforcement in legal states.
Microdosing — taking very small amounts of THC or low-dose CBD repeatedly to get mild calming effects without intoxication — has become a popular strategy for social anxiety, focused relaxation and travel stress. Early research and user surveys suggest many people find microdosing helpful for reducing situational anxiety (like holiday travel), though clinical evidence is still evolving and results vary by individual. CBD-only microdosing is another option for people who want relaxation without THC’s psychoactive effects; products like low-dose tinctures or single-count gummies make dosing predictable and portable. Medical sources urge caution: the evidence is mixed and more study is needed, so start low, go slow, and test at home before trying a dose on travel day.
Gummies and other edibles are popular for travel because they’re discreet and easy to dose. If you carry edibles:
- Keep products in original, labeled packaging if possible (helps show legal purchase in some states).
- Know dose per gummy and start with a microdose (often 2.5–5 mg THC) if you’re aiming for calm, not intoxication.
- Consider CBD-only products for daytime travel or when you must be fully alert.
There’s confusion about K9 units: some airport and federal canine teams are trained to detect narcotics, while others (and many TSA-owned dogs) focus primarily on explosives detection. As legalization has spread, some drug-detection programs have shifted their training priorities; nevertheless, law enforcement canine teams (and Customs/Border Protection narcotics dogs) can and do detect narcotics, including cannabis when trained for it. In short: don’t rely on any loophole — a canine alert or a discovered edible can still trigger police involvement.
RELATED: 8 Wacky Things To Know About Thanksgiving
The takeaway: many travelers find cannabis or CBD (especially microdosing and measured gummies) a genuinely helpful tool for holiday travel and family stress — but the legal landscape is uneven, and federal rules still govern many checkpoints. With smart dosing, careful packaging and an awareness of state vs. federal rules, you can use cannabis or CBD to smooth holiday journeys while minimizing legal risk.
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Anthony Washington
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Brooklyn Borough Hall, Liberty players and local volunteers team up to feed families for Thanksgiving • Brooklyn Paper
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Brooklynites are joining forces more than ever this holiday season to help community members facing food insecurity, a problem worsened by the food affordability crisis and a recent freeze in SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown.
At Brooklyn Borough Hall, Borough President Antonio Reynoso and his staff hosted a Thanksgiving food distribution on Nov. 21, handing out more than 60,000 pounds of goods, including turkeys, fresh produce such as sweet potatoes, corn, apples, and onions, and nonperishable items like pasta and rice. The food was distributed to more than 125 organizations addressing food insecurity and homelessness across the borough, including houses of worship, community kitchens, nonprofits, and other community-based groups.
Volunteers were busy loading the vans and cars with Thanksgiving staples.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann 
Over 60,000 pounds of food were distributed to organizations across Brooklyn.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann Reynoso said that, with support from Borough Hall’s special partner UA3, as well as National Grid, Optimum, Ponce Bank, Citizens, Met Council, Macerich, Food Bazaar, and the Hispanic Federation, the office raised more money than in previous years.
Organizations had to pre-register for the event, and Reynoso emphasized the importance of distributing the food throughout the borough.
“[The distribution event] just comes at a time when food insecurity is high. The national government and the Trump administration are being very clear about wanting to cut SNAP benefits,” Reynoso said, noting that his administration is prepared to support Brooklyn families in need should the benefits be reduced.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso also lent a helping hand. 
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and volunteers help distribute holiday food to community members facing food insecurity.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann “We’re ready, we’ll keep doing this type of work, and we need to do it every week to make sure that people are fed,” Reynoso said. “I hope that there’s a level of confidence in these families to know, ‘Look, maybe the national government is not there for us, but the local government is showing up.’ So today is about family. It’s about being grateful, being thankful, but also being confident. We got your back. Brooklyn is going to take care of Brooklyn!”
A slew of volunteers, including Borough Hall staff and other organizations, efficiently packed trolleys with holiday staples from a sea of pallets of food before loading them into cars and vans lined up along a well-organized assembly line in Borough Hall Plaza.
Joyce French, president of the Community Education Council 19, told Brooklyn Paper that her organization would distribute the food to about 100 families, noting that families were struggling as she waited in line to have her car loaded.
“We definitely need to have the events, because a lot of our families are not wealthy,” French said. “The struggle is a little bit worse than it was before because not a lot of money is coming in, and people are really struggling. So this is such a big asset.”
New York Liberty guards Natasha Cloud and Rebekah Gardner were among the volunteers loading holiday goods onto vehicles.
New York Liberty Guards Rebekah Gardner and Natasha Cloud were among the busy volunteers loading the holiday goods onto the vehicles.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann 
New York Liberty Guard Natasha Cloud said it was important to remember blessings around Thanksgiving.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann Cloud, who said she is not “big on holiday stuff” but is “huge” on family gatherings, told Brooklyn Paper that it is important to remember one’s blessings.
“I always appreciate when a full family can get together and just truly be present in the moment of what they are thankful for, especially with the chaos that is happening around us all the time,” Cloud said. “I think it is still very important to prioritize and remind ourselves how blessed we truly are.”
She gave a shoutout to the Brooklyn Borough Hall team, particularly Deputy Borough President Kim Council, whom Cloud has gotten to know as a caring person.
“The ability to pull something like this off, where you know you are going to feed thousands and thousands of mouths over a holiday season, where families didn’t know where else it was going to come from like that, truly is [remarkable],” Cloud said. “We need more politicians like her who truly do care. And it’s really a blessing for me to be a part of it as well.”
Gardner said Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday because gratitude is a “huge” part of her life.
“It’s awesome that there’s a day to recognize it, where you get to spend time with your family and do things like [volunteering] and give back,” Gardner said, hoping more communities will host events to help people in need.
Volunteers with Brownsville In Violence Out lent a helping hand.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann Mel Quan and his friend Kemori, with “Save The Next Generation,” were part of the “Brownsville In Violence Out” (BIVO) volunteer group.
“I like to give back. I like to do for others,” Quan told Brooklyn Paper. “I just like to be a better version of myself every day.”
Kemori added that they would be busy giving out turkeys in their community in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Newlyweds Patrick and Kelly paused to take wedding photos and help out, appreciating the event during challenging times.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann While volunteers spread holiday cheer, newlyweds Patrick and Kelly paused to take some obligatory wedding photos on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall and stopped for a bit to help.
“It’s tough times right now, so this is definitely great,” the groom told Brooklyn Paper.
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By Gabriele Holtermann
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These 6 kitchen tools can make or break your Thanksgiving dinner
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It’s the start of Thanksgiving week, the time when home cooks across America suddenly recognize the daunting task ahead.
More than 90% of people in the U.S. celebrate the food-centric holiday and more than 1 in 4 attend meals that include more than 10 other people, according to the Pew Research Center.
Under that kind of pressure, what host wouldn’t want the best tools to make sure the holiday dinner goes off without a hitch?
With that in mind, we asked national food safety experts which kitchen devices and aids are essential to ensure a safe and tasty Thanksgiving meal.
Here are their top four suggestions for aids that can make or break your holiday dinner, plus two bonus tips for after the meal:
Digital meat thermometer
Our panel of experts unanimously agreed that an instant-read digital thermometer is vital to making sure roast turkey and other dishes reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate the risk of food poisoning from germs like salmonella and Campylobacter.
“This is non-negotiable,” said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University food safety expert. “A reliable thermometer ensures you’re not guessing, because guessing is not a food safety strategy.”
The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is available to help with your Thanksgiving cooking needs. Find out some of the biggest mistakes and humorous questions that have been called in to the hotline.
Color-coded cutting boards
In the hustle of a holiday kitchen, the risk of cross-contamination is real. That’s when germs from one food, such as raw turkey, may be spread to other foods, such as fresh vegetables or fruits.
It’s best to use dedicated cutting boards for each type of food, and color-coding — red for meat, yellow for poultry, green for veggies — can help, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.
“I try not to use wooden cutting boards,” said Kowalcyk, noting that they can retain bacteria that thrive and grow to large enough quantities to cause illness.
Sharp knives
As an emergency medicine doctor who has stitched up many Thanksgiving injuries, Dr. Tony Cirillo urges home cooks to make sure their kitchen knives are sharp.
A sharp knife cuts cleanly, while a dull knife requires more pressure that can cause dangerous slips, said Cirillo, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Sturdy roasting pans
Pulling a hot turkey out of the oven is tricky, especially if the pan you cook it in is flimsy, Cirillo added. Use a sturdy metal roasting pan or, in a pinch, stack two foil roasting pans together for strength.
“I’m a big fan of double-panning,” Cirillo said. “Dropping the turkey is generally not good on Thanksgiving.”
Cooking timer
Just as important as getting food to the table is making sure it doesn’t sit out too long, said Don Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.
Use a cooking timer or clock alarm to make sure to pack away leftovers within two hours to prevent bacterial growth that can cause illness.
Ruler
And when you’re storing those leftovers, make sure to put them in shallow containers, Schaffner said.
Measure using a ruler — or even the short side of a credit card — to make sure that dense foods like stuffing and sweet potatoes reach a depth of no more than 2 inches to allow for quick and complete cooling in the refrigerator.
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Jonel Aleccia | The Associated Press
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