What’s open and closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2020 in the Lehigh Valley as COVID-19 alters traditions

Families and friends will give thanks this year on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.

Thanksgiving’s roots in the United States date back to 1863 when U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November a “national day of thanksgiving.” However, it wasn’t until 1941 that Congress declared the fourth Thursday in November the official national holiday.

For Americans, Thanksgiving traditionally has been marked as a holiday full of food, family and parades. This year, things likely will be scaled down amid the coronavirus pandemic. Health officials and experts are pleading caution with nationwide coronavirus hospitalizations topping 80,000 and case counts on the cusp of 200,000 daily, according to the Washington Post.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy is urging smaller dinners with immediate household families only. Gov. Tom Wolf is asking Pennsylvania residents -- under an advisory and not a statewide shutdown -- to stay home whenever possible.

Since Thanksgiving Day always falls on a Thursday, many businesses also remain closed on Friday, making way for workers to enjoy a four-day weekend. Here’s a look at what will be open and closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday across the Lehigh Valley:

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, which means all state and federal government offices are closed.

All county and municipal offices in Northampton, Lehigh and Warren counties also are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Northampton County will reopen its offices and court Friday for normal business hours; Lehigh County offices and court will remain closed Friday, Nov 27, reopening Monday, Nov. 30. Warren County offices also are closed Friday and a voice recording for Warren County court said operations were being reduced overall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The majority of municipal offices across the Lehigh Valley and northwest Jersey also are closed Friday, including Phillipsburg and the cities of Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown. Also closed Friday are Palmer Township, Forks Township and Wilson Borough, reopening Monday.

The New York Stock Exchange is closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, said Peter Asch, corporate communications and archivist for the stock exchange.

Nasdaq also is closed Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening at 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, said spokesman Matthew Sheahan.

The majority of banks are closed Thursday, including Fulton Bank, Santander, Bank of America, TD Bank, and Wells Fargo. Online banking and ATMs will remain open, though transactions such as transfers may not show up until Friday, Nov. 27.

The majority of Lehigh Valley supermarkets are open, but will have shortened hours. ShopRite, 4701 Freemansburg Ave., in Bethlehem Township, however, is closed Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27.

In New Jersey, four branches of the Warren County Library system are closed Thursday, Nov. 26 until Saturday, Nov. 28, reopening Monday, Nov. 30.

Also closed are the Phillipsburg Free Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 26 until Saturday, Nov. 28, reopening Monday, Nov. 30; and the Hackettstown Free Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27, reopening from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 28. The WH Walters Free Public Library, in Alpha, is closed Thursday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Nov. 30, reopening Tuesday, Dec. 1.

In Pennsylvania, the Easton Area Public Library is closed Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening Friday, Nov. 27 with normal hours. The Allentown Public Library is closed Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening Friday, Nov. 27 with reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and also reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.

Both the main and Southside branches of the Bethlehem library are closed Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27.

The Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity also is closed Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27, reopening Monday with reduced hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mary Meuser Memorial Library, in Wilson Borough, is closed Thursday, Nov. 28, reopening Friday, Nov. 29.

There will be no LANtaBus or LANtaVan services on Thursday, Nov. 26. All services resume on a normal operating schedule Friday, Nov 27.

TransBridge on Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27 will have service for these routes: Allentown/Clinton/New York east; Allentown/Clinton/New York west; Newark Airport east; and Newark Airport west. A full schedule for both days can be found here. There is no Doylestown/Flemington; JFK Airport; Wall Street; or Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino service at this time.

All New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicle offices are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening Friday, Nov. 27.

All Pennsylvania Department of Transportation driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, are closed Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday Nov. 27, re-opening under normal business hours on Monday, Nov. 30.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, here. Online services are free to use.

Most schools across the Lehigh Valley are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27. Some school districts will remain closed Monday, Nov. 30 even though the start of the firearms season for white-tailed deer is now the preceding Saturday.

Most community centers are closed Thursday, Nov. 26 but most reopen Friday, Nov. 27. Many communities in the past have hosted holiday tree-lighting ceremonies on Friday and some still plan to with social distancing, wearing of facial masks, and other guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in place.

Forks Township is holding its Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting this year from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 with the implemented guidelines, said Chris Pula, the township’s recreation manager. David Colver, chairman for the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors, said the Charles Chrin Community Center has canceled its tree lighting ceremony this year. The Hanover Township Community Center is hosting its Tree Lighting Ceremony from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 4, according to the community center’s website.

Most gas stations and some convenience stores remain open on Thanksgiving.

Some restaurants and larger chains remain open on Thanksgiving, but with shortened hours and at 50% capacity, under restrictions set forth by Gov. Wolf. Several mom and pops and smaller chains will be closed. It’s best to call ahead to check the hours of operation.

Most major Lehigh Valley chain retailers and malls are shutting down this year on Thanksgiving due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Walmart stores will be closed for the first time since the late 1980s and other retailers, such as Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, Best Buy and Boscov’s were quick to follow suit. Others shutting their doors for the holiday include BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Depot, JCPenney, Macy’s, Michaels, and Sam’s Club. The region’s major shopping destinations also are closed, including Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, Palmer Park Mall in Palmer Township and The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township.

Black Friday will officially be held on Nov. 27, but not all stores are planning to be open the marathon hours of year’s past, especially the region’s smaller retailers. Some have already started Black Friday sales.

For early birds wanting to avoid waiting for hours in socially distanced lines just to gain entry into a store, such chains as Kohls reportedly will be open at 5 a.m.; Best Buy will open at 5 a.m.; Target will be open by 7 a.m.; and Walmart will be open by 5 a.m. On Friday, both Palmer Park Mall and Lehigh Valley Mall open at 6 a.m. while stores vary at the Promenade Shops. The Promenade will be open at 9 a.m. on Black Friday, but some stores, such as Old Navy, Bath & Body Works and American Eagle plan to open by 6 a.m., according to its website.

In Pennsylvania, indoor gatherings with room for 0 to 2,000 people must be at 20% capacity; 2,000 to 10,000 people must be at 15% capacity; and more than 10,000 people must be at 10% capacity with a maximum of 3,750 people, according to the latest restrictions set forth by Gov. Wolf.

In New Jersey, it’s 50% capacity at stores and in malls, according to the most current restrictions set forth by Gov. Phil Murphy. However, New Jersey counties and municipalities now have the authority to order non-essential businesses to close at 8 p.m. to help slow the spread of the coronavirus under a new rule Murphy signed in recent weeks as the Garden State deals with a second wave of the pandemic.

Other retailers, such as Walmart, announced employees would be counting customers to keep stores at the required capacity levels.

U.S. Post Offices are closed Thursday, Nov. 26 but open Friday, Nov. 27. There is no mail delivery Thursday with the exception of priority mail express, said Desai Abdul-Razzaaq, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.

On Thursday, Nov. 26, Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores will be closed in Pennsylvania. New Jersey liquor stores are privately owned and also likely will be closed, depending on the proprietors.

On Friday, Nov. 27, some stores in Pennsylvania will open and close with extended holiday hours, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board says. Store locations and hours are available at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at [email protected].

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