5 Things That Change at Florida Publix Stores From Thanksgiving to New Year’s
Need eggs for Christmas morning? Grab them on Christmas Eve, because Publix is closed all day Dec. 25.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, your local Publix’s hours will shift more than once.
Here’s what changes at Florida Publix stores from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, based on how last season went.
1. Thanksgiving Day Closure
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, is one of only three days a year that Publix closes its stores, along with Christmas and Easter.
If you forget a bag of rolls, you can’t swing by your Publix on Thursday.
Stock up early.
2. Christmas Eve Hours
Last December, Florida Times-Union reporting said Publix stores close early on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Publix’s usual hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., though some stores run an hour later.
There were more than 889 Publix stores in Florida as of December 2025, so early closings reach a lot of shoppers.
In Collier County, the Naples Daily News reported Publix open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve last year, three hours before that usual close.
Shop early.
Hours vary by location, so treat 7 p.m. as one county’s schedule from last year, not a promise for your store.
How Publix Shares Its Holiday Hours
USA Today Network reporting says Publix posts its open and closing times on in-store signs before the holidays.
You can also select your store online to see its hours and other details.
3. Christmas Day Closure
Friday, Dec. 25 brings Publix’s second all-day closure of the season, 29 days after Thanksgiving.
If you need milk or eggs for Christmas morning, Christmas Eve is your last stop.
Closed all day.
Psst! How much do you know about Publix? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Publix Timeline Quiz
Answer these questions on Publix and its history. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
George Jenkins opened the first Publix grocery store in 1930, after leaving a manager job at a Piggly Wiggly. In which city?
4. New Year's Eve Hours
Expect an early close at your Publix on New Year's Eve.
Last year, Publix's Florida stores were open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 31.
Your store's closing time may differ, so check before the party run.
Check ahead.
5. New Year's Day Hours
Fox 35 Orlando listed Publix grocery stores as closing at 7 p.m. on New Year's Day last year, a Thursday.
Open at 7 a.m.
New Year's Day 2027 falls on a Friday, so check your store's hours first.
Christmas Eve at Other Grocers
Publix's 7 p.m. Christmas Eve close in Collier County matched Fresh Market, Sprouts and Whole Foods in the same Naples Daily News roundup.
Walmart closed at 6 p.m., Trader Joe's at 5 p.m. and many Aldi locations at 4 p.m.
Same close.
If you split your holiday shopping between stores, those closing times may shape the order of your stops.
Thanksgiving Dinner Orders
Last year, Publix customers who wanted a complete Thanksgiving dinner had until Nov. 24 to order it, according to Patch.
The dinners fed about 3 to 15 people, depending on the package.
Options included turkey, spiral sliced brown sugar ham and mojo pork, with sides such as cornbread dressing, plantains and rice.
Order ahead.
If you're hosting around eight, last year's Complete Turkey Dinner served about eight people, with 9.5 to 12.5 pounds of turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry orange relish and marshmallow delight.
Treat last year's Nov. 24 date as a guide, not a deadline, since your store's cutoff this season may differ.
Free Holiday Samples
Last November, Orlando news site ClickOrlando reported that Publix planned free holiday samples at its stores from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on two Saturdays, Nov. 15 and Dec. 6, 2025, so you could try seasonal items before buying.
The Nov. 15 lineup had Apple Pie in the bakery and Limited Edition Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries in the deli.
Limited Edition Eggnog Premium Ice Cream was in grocery, Hickory Hardwood Smoked Semi-Boneless Ham was in the meat department and Pumpkin Spice Flavored Pretzels were in produce.
On Dec. 6, the bakery offered Peppermint Cocoa Cheesecake and the produce department offered Candy Cane Coated Almonds.
Come hungry.
Those were last year's dates, so your store's tasting days this season may differ.
Holiday Hams and Sides
Publix's 2025 holiday list also included a Limited Edition Cherry Vanilla Cola-Flavored Glaze Honey-Cured Ham.
The ham was fully cooked, spiral sliced and bone-in, and it came with a glaze packet that sets in minutes.
Glaze included.
A Limited Edition Pumpkin Pie, filled with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, and a Limited Edition Cranberry Orange Relish joined it. If you're building a menu, those were the add-ons on the list.
Seasonal Cakes and Meals
During last year's holiday season, Publix Bakery brought a Merry Birthday cake to its bakeries, built for Christmas birthdays.
The cake debuted in a holiday commercial that began airing on Thanksgiving Day, starring a girl whose birthday falls on Christmas.
The two-tier version had pink buttercream, green buttercream Christmas trees and frosted Santa hats, and it came in vanilla or chocolate.
It was a special order that needed 24 hours' notice, according to ClickOrlando. If you were shopping for a Dec. 25 birthday, a mini version was already in stores.
A cake for Dec. 25.
Publix's 2025 holiday list also included a New Year's Pork Meal.
It served about four people, so you could cover a New Year's table with garlic pork loin, collard greens, black-eyed peas with rice and a loaf of Homestyle Cornbread.
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