Thanksgiving in Portland, Oregon
The American federal holiday Thanksgiving is celebrated annually in the city of Portland, Oregon.
City of Portland offices and most branches of Multnomah County Library are closed on Thanksgiving.[1]
Events and activities
Established in 2015, the PIR Turkey Trot is an annual fun run at Portland International Raceway, held on the night before Thanksgiving. The Oregon Zoo also hosts an annual Turkey Trot; races include a 5K run, as well as the Gobble Gallup and Tot Trot, both of which are for children. Participants go through the zoo and the International Rose Test Garden, and consumers are encouraged.[1] Thousands of people participated in the zoo's Turkey Trot in 2025; entrants received a knit cap and a chocolate turkey.[2][3] Tofurky sponsors the family-friendly Tofurky Trot annually,[4] which benefits Northwest VEG and includes a 5K, a costume contest, and vegan snacks. Participants start near the Oaks Park Roller Skating Rink at Oaks Amusement Park, then take the Springwater Corridor to cross the Sellwood Bridge, before returning to the park.[3][5] In 2019, Maura Fox included the Tofurky Trot in Outside magazine's "unofficial guide to America's best Turkey Trots".[6]
Food
Many restaurants have offered specials for Thanksgiving, including Andina, Bark City BBQ, Brix Tavern, Campana, Clarklewis, Duck House Chinese Restaurant, Friendship Kitchen, Huber's, Jake's Famous Crawfish, Jake's Grill, Jojo, Kann, Mother's Bistro, Papa Haydn, RingSide Steakhouse, Screen Door, and Sweedeedee in 2025.[7][8] Some restaurants and grocery stores have offered take-out specials for the holiday, including Ava Gene's, Bullard Tavern, the defunct De Noche, Elephants Delicatessen, Laurelhurst Market, Magna Kusina, Urban Farmer, and Zupan's Markets in 2023.[9][10] Other restaurants have offered free meals, such as Mémoire Cà Phê and Prost in 2024.[11] The seventeenth annual "Prostgiving" in 2025 featured a dinner buffet with traditional Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.[12] Cheryl's on 12th, Portland City Grill, the defunct Quaintrelle,[13] the restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Salt & Straw, and Ya Hala have also offered specials for Thanksgiving.[14][15]
Various organizations have offered free Thanksgiving meals, including Portland Rescue Mission and Union Gospel Mission.[16][17] Union Gospel Mission planned to serve approximately 450 meals in 2025.[18] In 2025, between 500 and 1,000 volunteers with the Sunshine Division delivered approximately 2,750 Thanksgiving meals in Portland and Gresham.[19] Approximately 50 employees of Zupan's Markets helped assemble the food boxes in 2025, as part of the company's almost two-decade partnership with the Sunshine Division.[20][21] In 2025, the Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Resource Center hosted "Queersgiving" for LGBTQ youth.[12]
Public transport and travel
Portland International Airport sees increased traffic around Thanksgiving. In 2010, approximately 290,000 passengers were expected to use the airport during Thanksgiving week, including between 34,000 and 43,000 per day on November 24, 28, and 29.[22] In 2025, approximately 367,000 travelers were expected to visit the airport between November 25 and December 1, with 60,000 alone on the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving.[23] There can be longer driving times to reach Eugene via Interstate 5 around the holiday.[24] There can also be changes to schedules on public transport; for example, TriMet's bus, MAX Light Rail, and streetcar operations have followed a weekend schedule on Thanksgiving, and the Portland Aerial Tram and WES Commuter Rail services have stopped service for the holiday. With some exceptions, parking meters were not enforced on Thanksgiving in 2025.[1]
See also
- Christmas in Portland, Oregon
- Halloween in Portland, Oregon
- Mardi Gras in Portland, Oregon
- Saint Patrick's Day in Portland, Oregon
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Stein, Rosemarie (2025-11-21). "Burn some calories at these Thanksgiving fun runs. Also: government closures, holiday services adjustments". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kamanā, Lia (2025-11-28). "Thousands gather at Oregon Zoo for 2025 Turkey Trot". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2025-11-28. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Seibold, Hannah (2025-11-13). "Where to find all the Turkey — and Tofurky — Trots in Portland". The Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Weyne, Maria (2025-11-28). "Portland celebrates Thanksgiving with annual 5k races". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Stein, Rosemarie (2024-11-25). "Thanksgiving morning fun runs. Are parking meters free? What's open, closed during the holiday". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Fox, Maura (2019-11-25). "An Unofficial Guide to America's Best Turkey Trots". Outside. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ "Get Your Thanksgiving Dinner Orders in Now". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Bagby, Sarah (2025-11-22). "Where to feast Thanksgiving 2025- we can be grateful so many local dining options". KATU. Archived from the original on 2025-11-22. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Wong, Janey (2016-11-15). "Where to Order Thanksgiving Dinner Takeout in Portland This Year". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Don't want to cook for Thanksgiving? These Portland eateries offer dine-in, takeout meals". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2025-12-07. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Where to find free Thanksgiving meals throughout Portland". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Unique Thanksgiving celebrations held around Portland". KOIN.
- ↑ "Portland restaurants, stores offering take-home meals for Thanksgiving". KOIN.
- ↑ "Enjoy a hassle-free Thanksgiving meal at these Portland restaurants". KOIN.
- ↑ "10 places to get takeout or dine-in Thanksgiving dinner near Portland". KOIN.
- ↑ Rogoway, Mike (2025-11-24). "Here are places serving free Thanksgiving dinners in the Portland area". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Bagby, Sarah (2025-11-14). "Thanksgiving Season | Where to grab a free meal or volunteer to help others get theirs". KATU. Archived from the original on 2025-11-15. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Union Gospel Mission, 2025:
- Corser, Bobby (2025-11-20). "Union Gospel Mission to serve 450 Thanksgiving meals to those in need in Portland". KATU. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- "'It's important': Union Gospel Mission feeds hundreds in need for Thanksgiving in Portland". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2025-12-15. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Dominique, Leslie (2025-11-28). "Union Gospel Mission serves 450 Thanksgiving meals in Portland". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2025-11-28. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
- ↑ Sunshine Division, 2025:
- "'All done because people care': Sunshine Division delivers Thanksgiving meals across PDX Metro". KGW. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- "Sunshine Division delivers nearly 3K Thanksgiving dinners to Portland area families in need". KPTV. 2025-11-23. Archived from the original on 2025-12-01. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - "Sunshine Division home-delivers thousands of turkey meal boxes for Thanksgiving". KOIN.
- ↑ Richmond, Mckenzie (2025-11-17). "Volunteers help build Thanksgiving food boxes for Portland families". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2025-11-17. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Volunteers pack Thanksgiving boxes for families in need". KGW. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Sullivan, Julie (2010-11-19). "At Portland airport, Transportation Security Administration pat-downs greet Thanksgiving travelers". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Portland International Airport, 2025:
- "Portland airport officials say Sunday and Monday are busiest days for post-Thanksgiving travel". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2025-12-01. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Lopez, Julia (2025-11-26). "Hundreds of thousands expected to travel through PDX during Thanksgiving". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2025-11-26. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Rogoway, Mike (2025-11-23). "After long lag, PDX nears full recovery from pandemic travel drop". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- "Portland airport officials say Sunday and Monday are busiest days for post-Thanksgiving travel". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2025-12-01. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
- ↑ "Millions to hit the roads this Thanksgiving in Oregon. Here's when to avoid I-5". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2026-01-01. Retrieved 2026-02-18. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links
- Portland nonprofits serve Thanksgiving meals on YouTube (2025), KGW
- Portland nonprofit serves hundreds at free Thanksgiving community meal on YouTube (2025), KPTV
- Union Gospel Mission serves 450 Thanksgiving meals in Portland on YouTube (2025), KPTV
- Sunshine Division delivers nearly 3K Thanksgiving dinners to Portland area families in need on YouTube (2025), KPTV
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