The Point Judith high-speed ferry made its last regular run of the 2026 season on Columbus Day weekend, which ended October 12. It returns for the week of Thanksgiving. In the operator's printed 2026 timetable, high-speed service has its own "Thanksgiving Week" block for November 25 through November 29. Most of what happens on the island that weekend follows from this.
The Holiday Stroll runs Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29. It is the one weekend of the off-season when Block Island's year-round businesses and its summer setup operate at the same time. Darius Inn reopens, and shops that have been on weekend-only hours open again. Eli's serves its last night of the year on the Stroll's Saturday. On Monday the extra ferry, the inns and most of those shop hours go away again.
The Ferry Sets the Weekend's Edges
Interstate Navigation's 2026 schedule lists two Thanksgiving Week blocks on the Point Judith route. On Thanksgiving Day itself, the two boats run very different schedules.
| Point Judith service | Thanksgiving Week dates | Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional ferry | Nov. 23 to Nov. 29 | 11:00 a.m. from Point Judith, 12:30 p.m. from Block Island |
| High-speed ferry | Nov. 25 to Nov. 29 | No service |
Thanksgiving Day has the fewest crossings of the week. The printed schedule shows a single traditional round trip and no high-speed service. Then the high-speed boat runs again Friday through Sunday for the Stroll. The Block Island Tourism Council's Stroll page says outright that "there will be Traditional and High Speed ferry service from Pt. Judith over this weekend." The operator's PDF says the schedule is "subject to change without notice" and sends riders to its website for updates. Check the live schedule page before you book a crossing for either day.
So the guest traffic is lopsided. Thursday dinner on the island is mostly for people who were already there or came over on the late-morning boat. Friday's sailings bring the shoppers.
Old Harbor Is Where It All Happens
The Block Island Chamber of Commerce puts the holiday shopping and festivities "throughout Block Island's Old Harbor area," a few minutes' walk from the ferry landing. Shopping, restaurants, activities and lodging are all within walking distance. On a weekend when many visitors arrive without a car, that matters. Everything the Stroll offers sits within reach of Water Street.
The town is decorated, the Lobster Pot Tree goes up, and local shops start their sales on Friday morning. The Tourism Council's slogan for the weekend is to "turn Black Friday into Block Friday." It also warns that "shop days and hours may vary." The Chamber plans to post a brochure on blockislandchamber.com listing the shops that will be open, with their deals and hours. That brochure is the document to keep on your phone for the weekend.
Lodging works the same way. The Tourism Council's seasonal-hours directory says Darius Inn closed on November 1 and will reopen for Thanksgiving and the Holiday Stroll, without its breakfast or wine-hour service. An inn that opens for one weekend in late November shows how the island treats the Stroll: worth opening for, and then closed again.
Saturday, November 28 Is the Busiest Day
Most of the weekend's events land on one day. Here is Saturday as it stands on the published calendars:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Winter Market 2026 at the Island Free Library, as listed on the library's calendar.
- 1:30 p.m., the 20th Annual Adrian Mitchell 5k Turkey Trot. It starts at the Fred Benson Town Beach Pavilion, and proceeds support the annual Block Island Ski Trip, according to the race listing.
- Evening, Eli's last night of the year. The Chamber's "Who is open" page lists Eli's as "open until November 28th," with fall hours Friday through Monday from 6 p.m. No reservations are taken, and the takeout number is 401-466-5230.
- Night, the Saturday Night Live Costume Party at The Yellow Kittens. It appears on the Tourism Council's events calendar for November 28.
The race starts at 1:30, while the market is still open until 2, so anyone who wants to do both should get to the library in the morning. Eli's takes no reservations and has its last night on the Stroll's busiest evening. Anyone who wants a table should plan for a line.
What Stays Open Once the Stroll Ends
The Chamber's snapshot, marked "as of 11/1/26," shows which businesses carry the island through winter and which ones open only for this weekend.
| Business | Status on the Chamber's November 2026 list | Hours listed |
|---|---|---|
| The Barn at The Spring House | Open all year, winter hours | Wed–Sat, bar at 4 p.m., kitchen at 5, until 9 |
| Block Island Grocery | Open all year | Daily, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Bodega, above Poor People's Pub | Open | Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 8 a.m.–midnight, Sun 9 a.m.–10 p.m. |
| Ellen's at the Airport | Open all year | Daily, 7 a.m.–2 p.m., kitchen closes 1:30 |
| Odd Fellows Cafe | Open all year | 7 a.m.–3 p.m. |
| McAloon's | Open all year | Closed Mondays |
| Red Bird Liquor Store | Open all year | Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Wetherbee's Pizza & Bar | Open all year | Daily, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. |
| The Yellow Kittens | Open all year | Daily, 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m. |
| Eli's | Seasonal | Open until Nov. 28 |
Retail has a winter schedule too. The Chamber lists Beachcomber as open on November weekends and most Tuesdays in December, and suggests contacting other shops for their hours. Mutt Hut has its own signal: when the yellow flag is out, it's open, and shoppers are invited to text or email when it isn't.
The Barn is the main Thanksgiving Day option on the list. The Spring House is taking reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at $59.95 per adult and $29.95 for children under 12, with seatings from noon to 5 p.m. Book through OpenTable or by calling 401-466-5844, extension 106. The Barn's regular winter schedule covers Wednesday through Saturday, so after the long weekend it settles back into four dinner nights a week.
The Week After
On Tuesday, December 1, the Island Free Library's calendar lists a Tuesday Night Stroll from 4 to 7 p.m. The traditional ferry moves to its November 30 to December 20 schedule block, and the extra high-speed sailings end. Eli's will be closed for the year. Daily food and supplies come back down to the island's year-round core: Block Island Grocery from 9 to 6, Ellen's at the Airport and Odd Fellows Cafe for breakfast and lunch, and Wetherbee's and The Yellow Kittens into the night.
If you're spending Thanksgiving on the island this year, or thinking about what owning a place there looks like after the summer crowds leave, Geb Masterson would be glad to share how Block Island's off-season calendar works for year-round and seasonal owners. Request a Private Consultation whenever you're ready.
