Here’s what closes and what stays open on Thanksgiving Day for 2017, and on Friday and the weekend, along with changes in hours and transportation:
Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve — Nov 22
See also: Tuesday Predicted To Be Busiest on Roads: AAA’s Travel Advisory for Thanksgiving 2017
- Darien Library closes early, at 6 p.m.
Darien public schools close early:
- Early Learning Program (ELP) — 12 p.m.
- Darien High School — 12:20 p.m.
- Middlesex Middle School — 12:30 p.m.
- Hindley, Royle, Tokeneke elementary schools — 1 p.m.
- Holmes, Ox Ridge elementary schools — 1:25 p.m.
Grocery store closing times:
- Palmer’s Market — 8 p.m.
- Trader Joe’s — 9 p.m.
- Stop & Shop (both stores) — 10 p.m. (also open Thanksgiving)
- Whole Foods Market — 11 p.m.
Pharmacy closing times:
- CVS — 10 p.m. (pharmacy closes at 9 p.m.)
- Grieb’s Pharmacy — 5 p.m.
- Walgreens — 10 p.m. (pharmacy closes at 9 p.m.)
Thursday — Thanksgiving Day — Nov 23
Government offices at the local, state and federal level are closed. Darien Post Office is closed. If it’s a business, expect it to be closed, although many pharmacies, supermarkets and stores selling items for Christmas gifts may be open.
Also closed
- Darien Library
- Palmer’s Market
- Trader Joe’s
- The pharmacy at Walgreens (the store will be open).
Open
- Darien YMCA will be open from 7 a.m. to 12 noon.
Image from a Darien Y email
Darien YMCA classes on Thanksgiving Day 2017
- Stop and Shop supermarkets (both of them in Darien) will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Whole Foods Market will be open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- CVS — open regular hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (pharmacy open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- Grieb’s Pharmacy will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Walgreens will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. but the pharmacy will be closed.
Transportation
- CT Transit in Stamford and Darien: All local and express routes will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Norwalk Transit will operate the Coastal Link (along Route 1) and paratransit services only.
- Metro-North “will operate a modified weekend schedule with additional inbound trains for those of you heading to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Holiday Parade. And we will have plenty of additional outbound service to get you home to the dinner table. See a special Holiday Timetable.“
Early 20th century postcard. The colorful Puritan outfit isn’t really historically wrong, despite traditional depictions — they would sometimes dress colorfully. We can imagine the cheery dialogue: “Would you quit ringing that bell, Grandpa!” “Well, put the lid back on that pot, Grandma!”
Friday — ‘Black Friday’ — Nov 24
Closed
- Darien town government offices
Open
- Darien transfer station and Recycling Center
- Darien Library
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles offices are open regular hours.
- Post Offices
- U.S. government offices
Transportation
- Stamford Connector (Route 351) [between Stamford Railroad Station and downtown Stamford] will operate on a reduced schedule. All other local and express routes will operate on a regular schedule.
- Norwalk Transit will operate on a full schedule.
- Metro-North “will operate a modified weekend schedule […]. See a special Holiday Timetable.“
Saturday — ‘Small Business Saturday’ — Nov 25
Open
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles offices are open regular Saturday hours.
- Darien transfer station and Recycling Center