Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, is a federal holiday recognized nationwide.
For Americans, it's often a day full of food, family and parades. The first Thanksgiving feast is thought to have been in 1621.
In 1789, President George Washington declared a day in late November as one for public thanksgiving and prayer, but it wasn't until 1863 that Thanksgiving was recognized as a federal holiday by President Abraham Lincoln and set as the last Thursday in November.
Here's what will be open and closed on Thursday, Nov. 22:
Thanksgiving Day hours
Food Lion: Open until 3 p.m.
Harris Teeter: Open until 2 p.m.
The Fresh Market: All stores open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Whole Foods – Open 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Kroger: Many stores open 24 hours. Some stores open 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SouthPark Mall : Open 5PM–12AM
Charlotte Premium Outlet: Open 6PM–11:59PM
Concord Mills: 6 p.m. Thursday through 9 p.m. Friday
Carolina Place Mall: 6 p.m.-midnight Thursday; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
Rock Hill Galleria: 4 p.m.-midnight Thursday; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
Northlake Mall: 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
National Stores
Bass Pro Shops: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; reopen 5 a.m. Black Friday.
Bealls: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Bealls Florida: 5 to 11 p.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Belk: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Best Buy: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; reopen 8 a.m. Friday.
Big Lots: 7 a.m. to midnight; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Boscov’s: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Cabela’s: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; reopen 5 a.m. Friday.
Conn's HomePlus: 5 a.m. to midnight; reopen 8 a.m. Friday.
CVS: Most locations open regular hours but most pharmacies will be closed.
Dick's Sporting Goods: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; reopen 5 a.m. Friday.
Dollar General: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
DSW: 5 to 10 p.m.; reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
Dunham’s Sports: Doorbuster sale starts 3 p.m. and goes until 3 p.m. Friday.
Five Below: 6 to 11 p.m.; reopen 8 a.m. Friday.
Fred's: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; normal hours Friday.
Fry's Electronics: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
GameStop: 3 to 10 p.m.; reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
Goody's: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Gordman's: 5 p.m. to midnight; reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
J.C. Penney: Open 2 p.m. Thanksgiving through 10 p.m. Friday.
Kmart: 6 a.m. to midnight; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Kohl's: Open 5 p.m. through midnight Friday, doorbusters until 1 p.m. Friday.
Lord & Taylor: Varies. 5 to 10 p.m. or later, most re-open 5 a.m.
Lucky's Market: Open until 4 p.m.
Macy's: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Meijer: Most locations are open 24 hours and the sale goes from 6 a.m. Thanksgiving through Friday.
Michaels: 6 p.m. to midnight; reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
Modell’s Sporting Goods: Varies. Many stores open 6 p.m. to midnight; many reopen 6 a.m.
Old Navy: Hours vary by location but many stores are staying open from 3 p.m. Thanksgiving until 10 p.m. Friday. Search for your closest store's hours at www.oldnavy.com.
Old Time Pottery: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; reopen 8 a.m. Friday.
Palais Royal: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Peebles: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Ross: 6 p.m. to midnight; reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
Sears: 6 p.m. to midnight; reopen 5 a.m. Friday.
Shopko: Sale starts 2 p.m. Thursday and doorbusters available through 2 p.m. Friday, while supplies last.
Shopko Hometown: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
Southeastern Grocers: Close early at 4 p.m.
Stage Stores: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m. Friday.
Target: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; reopen 7 a.m. Friday.
Ulta: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.; reopen 6 a.m Friday.
Walgreens: Most stores will be open regular hours but most pharmacies will be closed.
Walmart: Most stores open all day Thanksgiving with in-store Black Friday sale starting 6 p.m.
Winn-Dixie: Close early at 4 p.m.
Black Friday hours
Remember to check with your closest location as hours vary. Some retailers have only announced opening times.
Academy Sports + Outdoors: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
A.C. Moore: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Apple: Most stores open at 8 a.m., special hours are listed at www.apple.com.
Bass Pro Shops: Open 5 a.m., doorbusters available until 11 a.m.
Barnes & Noble: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bealls: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bealls Florida: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bealls Outlet: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bed Bath & Beyond: Open 6 a.m., special coupon available through noon.
Belk: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Best Buy: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Big Lots: Open 6 a.m.
BJ's Wholesale Club: 7 a.m. to regular closing hours.
Bloomingdale's: Open 7 a.m.
Boscov’s: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Burlington: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cabela’s: Open 5 a.m., doorbusters available until 11 a.m.
City Furniture: Open 8 a.m.
Conn's HomePlus: 8 a.m. to midnight.
Costco: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Crate & Barrel: Varies, most have extended hours.
CVS: Regular hours.
Dick's Sporting Goods: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Dillard's: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
DSW: Open 7 a.m.
Dunham’s Sports: Doorbuster sale starts 3 p.m. Thanksgiving and goes until 3 p.m.
Five Below: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fleet Farm: Open 6 a.m.
Fred's: Normal hours.
Fry's Electronics: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
GameStop: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Gordman's: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Guitar Center: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Half Price Books: Open 9 a.m.
Harbor Freight: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hobby Lobby: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Home Depot: Open 6 a.m.
HomeGoods: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
J.C. Penney: Open Thanksgiving and will remain open through 10 p.m. Friday.
Joann Stores: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Kmart: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Kohl’s: Open Thanksgiving and will remain open through midnight Friday, doorbusters available until 1 p.m.
Lord & Taylor: Varies. 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Lowe's: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Macy’s: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., doorbusters available until 1 p.m.
Marshalls: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Meijer: Most locations are open 24 hours and the sale goes from 6 a.m. Thanksgiving through Friday.
Menards: Open 6 a.m., doorbusters until noon.
Michaels: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Modell’s Sporting Goods: Varies. Many stores open 6 a.m.
Neiman Marcus: Open 8 a.m.
Nordstrom: Hours vary. Search department store and Nordstrom Rack outlet stores' hours on Nordstrom.com.
Office Depot and OfficeMax: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Old Navy: Hours vary by location but many stores are staying open from 3 p.m. Thanksgiving until 10 p.m. Friday. Search for your closest store's hours at www.oldnavy.com.
Old Time Pottery: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Palais Royal: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Peebles: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Petco: Hours vary.
PetSmart: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pet Supermarket: Open 9 a.m., regular hours
Rooms To Go: Open 8 a.m., coupons available until 2 p.m.
Ross: Open 7 a.m., closing times vary.
Sam's Club: Open 7 a.m.
Saks Fifth Avenue: Open at 8 a.m., closing times vary.
Sears: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Shoe Carnival: Open 6 a.m.
Shopko: Open 7 a.m., doorbusters until 2 p.m.
Sierra Trading Post: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Stage Stores: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Staples: Open 7 a.m.
Stein Mart: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Target: Open 7 a.m., closing times vary.
T.J. Maxx: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tractor Supply Co.: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ulta: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Walgreens: Regular hours.
Walmart: Most stores open 24 hours.
World Market: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.