What's Open, Closed Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday and the beginning of a four-day weekend for many people. Here's what's open and what's closed, what closes early on Wednesday and what bus or train schedules are the same or different.

Stores & Restaurants

Some big retailers near New Canaan are open at some point on Thanksgiving, amid some controversy (for an article about that, click here).

RESTAURANTS OPEN:

• Boulevard 18 will be serving a special pre fixed menu that includes Apple Pecan Salad and Roasted Pumpkin Soup as appetizers, Citrus Brined Pennsylvania Turkey and Rib Eye as entrees, and Ginger-Apple Crisp or Chocolate Terrine for dessert. Dinner is $65 per adult ($110 with wine pairings) and $30 per child. Reservations are accepted between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

(For a list of restaurants open Thanksgiving Day around Fairfield County, click here.)

PHARMACIES:

• CVS Pharmacy — Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day; normal hours on other days.
  

• Walgreens — Open Thanksgiving day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but pharmacy closed. Walgreens 24-hour pharmacies stay open on Thanksgiving Day, and the nearest one is at 1333 E. Putnam Ave. (near the intersection with Sound Beach Ave.) in the Riverside section of Greenwich — (203) 637-1496.

GROCERY STORES:

• Walter Stewarts will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.
  

• Stop & Shop — Both Stop & Shop in Noroton Heights and at Goodwives Shopping Center in Darien will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

• Trader Joe's — The store will be closed Thanksgiving Day. Otherwise, store hours Wednesday through Sunday won't change.

• Whole Foods Market — Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, normal hours on other days.

COFFEE SHOPS:

• Dunkin Donuts — Open on Thanksgiving Day with no change in hours at all: Dunkin Donuts is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Starbucks Coffee — open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, normal hours on other days.
  
  
• Garelick & Herbs will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will reopen on Friday.
  
  

Know whether any other stores are open or closed on Thanksgiving or have different hours through the weekend? Tell us in the comments!

Closing early Wednesday

• New Canaan Public Schools are on an early dismissal schedule.

• New Canaan Library closes at 5 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day

The following are CLOSED Thanksgiving Day:

• New Canaan Public Schools

• New Canaan Library

• Post offices

• U.S. Government offices

• State offices (PDF of state holiday schedule attached to this article)

• New Canaan town government

• Banks have the option of staying open or closed — in practice, all or nearly all are closed on Thanksgiving Day

• CT Transit, Stamford bus service

• Norwalk Transit bus service

• New Canaan YMCA will be closed Thanksgiving Day and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. Fall programs will not meet 11/21-11/24.

• New York Stock Exchange

• Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk (open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

The following are OPEN Thanksgiving Day:

• Most area pharmacies for part of the day (see list, above)

• A small number of restaurants (see list, above)

• Many grocery stores for part of the day (see list, above)

• Some major retail chains

TRAIN SCHEDULE:

• Metro-North's New Haven Line (link to PDF of special schedule)

Friday

OPEN:

• Department of Motor Vehicles regional service centers and major service offices will be open starting at 7:45 a.m.

• American Automobile Association offices will be open to process driver’s license renewals during their normal Friday business hours.

• State offices (PDF of state holiday schedule attached to this article)

• Post offices

• U.S. Government offices

• New Canaan Library

• New York Stock Exchange (closes early, at 1 p.m.)

• Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday

• Nearly all stores and banks

CLOSED:

• New Canaan town government

• New Canaan Public Schools

BUS/TRAIN SCHEDULES:

• Metro-North's New Haven Line (link to PDF of special FRIDAY schedule)

• CT Transit (Stamford buses) will operate a regular schedule with reduced commuter connection service

• Norwalk Transit had not announced any changes in its schedule, as of Monday.

Saturday

OPEN:

• Department of Motor Vehicles regional service centers and major service offices will be open for normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• American Automobile Association offices will be open to process driver’s license renewals during their normal Saturday business hours.

• New Canaan Library

• Post offices (that are normally open on Saturdays)

BUS/TRAIN SCHEDULES:

• Metro-North's New Haven Line  (also on Sunday; link to PDF of special schedule)
• Neither CT Transit (in Stamford) nor Norwalk Transit had announced any schedule changes for Saturday, as of Monday.