QR Code for Thanksgiving: 33+ Ideas to Boost Your Sales
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping and dining seasons of the year.
A QR code for Thanksgiving Day is the perfect digital tool to help businesses operate smoothly during the upcoming holiday rush.
It facilitates a convenient method of offering discounts, promoting products or services, and digitizing transactions to make them contactless.
Keep reading to learn more about how to boost your business on Thanksgiving with QR codes and how to make one using the best QR code generator.
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Thanksgiving QR code campaign ideas for various industries
Thanksgiving offers different industries a unique opportunity to engage customers and boost sales, and QR codes can help streamline their efforts.
Get ideas on how to use QR code for Thanksgiving Day 2025 with these creative and effective applications perfect for any business:
Hotels and accommodations
Hotels often see higher demand around the holidays, with families traveling or booking staycations. QR codes make it easier to promote services and engage with guests.
1. Website access: Share your amenities or seasonal packages through a URL QR code printed on flyers or displayed at the front desk.
2. Social media growth: A QR code for all social media helps guests follow pages instantly, keeping them updated on offers and availability.
3. Feedback forms: Encourage guests to scan a Google Form QR code during checkout to leave suggestions. Digital feedback is quicker to collect than paper surveys.
Restaurants and food services
On Thanksgiving, turn your menu into a QR code, print it, and place it on tables. Diners can simply scan the QR code to view available dishes. This can keep things organized and improve customer experience.
4. Digital menus: Place QR codes on tables so guests can scan and instantly view your Thanksgiving specials. There is no need to pass around physical menus.
5. Interactive ordering: A QR code ordering system like MENU TIGER lets customers scan, order, and pay directly from their phones. Staff can focus on serving instead of handling every order.
6. Promotions: Add a QR code for Thanksgiving dinner on posters, flyers, or social media posts linking to special dinner deals, family bundles, and reservation pages.
Event management
From community drives to Thanksgiving Day parades, events need a way to keep people informed and connected.
7. Ticketing: Use QR codes as e-tickets for faster entry and less paper waste.
8. Schedules: Place QR code posters at entrances so attendees can scan for event programs and maps.
9. Event pages: Organizers can use a landing page QR code where attendees find updates, sponsor info, or live streams. You won’t need a web domain or hosting to set this up.
Retail and shopping
Stores face massive crowds and competition during Thanksgiving week. QR codes can give them an edge.
10. Discount access: Place QR codes on posters or flyers that instantly reveal Black Friday or Thanksgiving deals.
11. Product info: Let customers scan packaging for details, reviews, or how-to guides.
12. Mobile checkout: Use QR codes to offer quick, contactless payment options and cut long lines.
13. Interactive files: Retailers can use a file QR code converter to turn product catalogs or guides into scannable files for customers.
Clothing and fashion
Fashion shops can use QR codes to make promotions dynamic and interactive.
14. Time redirection: Offer discounts that vary by scan time, for example, 30% in the morning, 15% in the afternoon.
15. Dynamic redirects: Redirect customers based on location, number of scans, device language, or geo-fencing.
16. Coupon redemption: Lead scans to a webpage to redeem discounts or giveaways.
17. Expiry control: Limit access by setting QR codes to expire after a set time or number of scans.
Travel and hospitality
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and QR codes ease the chaos.
18. Boarding passes and tickets: Airlines and bus lines already rely on QR code passes to speed up boarding.
19. Hotel check-in: Guests can scan QR codes in the lobby to check in, view amenities, or order room service.
20. Local guides: Hotels and tour operators can place QR codes that link to maps, restaurant recommendations, or event schedules.
21. Travel updates: Travel companies can use a Smart URL QR code to provide location-based updates, flight information, or special promotions for travelers.
Charities and nonprofits
Thanksgiving also highlights giving. QR codes help charities and nonprofits raise support with less friction.
22. Donation QR codes: Place payment QR code channels on posters, email campaigns, or social media posts to accept digital contributions.
23. Impact stories: Link a QR code to a short video showing how donations help families during the holiday.
24. Volunteer sign-ups: Make it easy for people to scan and register to help at local drives or shelters, or use a vCard QR code as a digital card for Thanksgiving, instantly sharing organizer contact details.
💡 Did you know? QR TIGER offers exclusive discounts for nonprofits and charities. Get these perks by contacting [email protected].
Supermarkets and farmers’ markets
Supermarkets can improve the Thanksgiving shopping experience by placing QR codes next to seasonal items like turkeys or pies. These codes can link to recipe suggestions, sourcing details, or nutrition facts.
25. Recipes and tips: Use a file QR code so customers can download preparation guides in PDF form or watch cooking videos.
26. Farm-to-table info: Farmers’ markets can add dynamic QR codes that share details about local farms or sustainability practices.
27. Cooking tutorials: YouTube QR codes can lead shoppers to step-by-step Thanksgiving recipes using fresh ingredients.
Museums and cultural centers
Museums, cultural centers, and historical sites can optimize their events by using a Thanksgiving QR code that links to event registration pages, digital tickets, or interactive schedules.
28. Event access: Direct visitors to registration pages, digital tickets, or interactive programs.
29. Venue navigation: A location QR code can guide attendees with maps of activities and exhibits.
30. Educational content: Video QR codes let you share videos about Thanksgiving history and highlight its cultural significance.
Parks and recreational spaces
Parks hosting Thanksgiving picnics or community events can benefit from a dynamic URL QR code to keep visitors informed.
31. Real-time updates: A dynamic URL QR code on signage can share weather alerts, available picnic spots, or park rules.
32. Activity schedules: A multi-URL QR code can display different info based on the time of day, like hiking routes in the morning and family activities in the evening.
33. Internet access: A WiFi QR code helps visitors connect to free park internet, making it easier to book picnic spots or view recreational guides online.
BONUS: More marketing gimmicks to try on Thanksgiving
Some more effective Thanksgiving marketing ideas you can do include:
- Arranging a brief Thanksgiving promotion with a limited duration;
- Creating Thanksgiving-related content (like blogs, videos, or social media posts);
- Providing special discounts to devoted customers;
- Executing a social media campaign centered around gratitude to express customer appreciation;
- Organizing a contest featuring prizes related to Thanksgiving;
- Collaborating with community organizations for a Thanksgiving charity event;
- Using email marketing to send customized Thanksgiving greetings.
- Offering interactive Thanksgiving-themed games or trivia for family and guests;
- Encouraging customers to explore their family history or ancestry;
- Sharing digital photo albums of Thanksgiving memories; and
- Sending personalized video greetings through digital cards.
Create a custom holiday QR code with the best free QR code generator
Follow these steps to generate free dynamic QR codes for your Thanksgiving campaigns:
1. Go to the best QR code generator and create a free account — no credit card is required.
2. Select a QR code solution, enter your data, and click Generate QR Code.
3. Customize the QR code by adding a logo or changing the color and patterns.
4. Test your QR code by scanning it to ensure it works on any device.
5. Download, print, and deploy your QR codes.
QR code for Thanksgiving real-life use cases
Here are some real-world examples of how QR codes have been extremely effective during Thanksgiving, enhancing customer experiences and streamlining operations.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology on Thanksgiving
Source: AWS
Amazon Fresh kept its doors open on Thanksgiving, and some branches made shopping even smoother with their Just Walk Out technology.
Shoppers simply scanned an in-app QR code, grabbed what they needed, and walked out. The system automatically tracked items in a virtual cart and charged the customer's Amazon account.
The only time staff stepped in was for age checks, like alcohol purchases. For everything else, Thanksgiving grocery runs became checkout-free and hassle-free.
Toys R Us: QR codes for store maps
To ease the Black Friday and Thanksgiving rush, Toys R Us rolled out its Black Friday Made Easy campaign.
Part of it? QR codes at store entrances that opened digital maps on shoppers’ phones.
With one quick scan, customers could find toys, deals, and shortcuts without the stress of wandering crowded aisles.
Verizon Live: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The pandemic may have caused restrictions on Thanksgiving Day celebrations, but Macy's always finds a way to keep the spirit alive.
To include home viewers in the celebration, Macy’s flashed a QR code in their live stream on Verizon’s YouTube page.
This Thanksgiving QR code redirects to the center of the activity in Herald Square, which offers a 360-degree view. This allows people at home to participate virtually in the fun.
Walmart’s contactless pickup service
Walmart improved its Thanksgiving shopping experience by incorporating QR codes into its contactless pickup service.
Shoppers who purchased online were given a distinct QR code through the Walmart app. Upon arriving at the store, they scanned the QR code at a designated pickup point.
This ensured a smooth and quick handoff of groceries and holiday essentials without customers needing to leave their vehicles. It was especially convenient for shoppers who wanted to avoid holiday crowds.
Cracker Barrel’s contactless menus
Cracker Barrel implemented QR codes on its Thanksgiving menus to allow customers to view its holiday meal options without touching physical menus.
This maintained hygiene during the pandemic and made it easier to showcase its seasonal promotions.
Customers could use the QR code to order takeout directly from their phones for a quick pickup, simplifying their Thanksgiving meal prep.
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
During Thanksgiving donation drives, St. Jude’s used QR codes at various retail checkout points and donation boxes.
The codes directed users to a secure page on the hospital's website, where they could easily donate to its cause using their mobile devices.
This simplified the donation process, encouraging more people to give during the holiday season.
Modernize Thanksgiving Day with QR TIGER
Hype up your business this coming Thanksgiving day, increase your sales, and at the same time, leave a remarkable experience to your customers using a QR code for Thanksgiving.
With a QR code, you are a step higher than your competitors by integrating this technology, to which millions of smartphone users can relate.
Try our QR code maker with logo integration to enjoy many features that will benefit your business this Thanksgiving.
Sign up today and get started.
FAQ
What day is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving (United States) falls on Thursday, November 27, 2025. It’s always the fourth Thursday in November.
Where is Thanksgiving celebrated?
Thanksgiving is mainly celebrated in the United States and Canada, though other countries observe their own harvest or gratitude festivals.
What is the Thanksgiving QR code?
There’s no specific “Thanksgiving QR code” solution. You can simply use a QR code generator like QR TIGER, enter your desired content (like a promo page, menu, or event invite), and create one for your Thanksgiving campaign.
When should I start running Thanksgiving ads?
You should start running Thanksgiving ads as early as October to capture attention before the holiday rush and stay ahead of competitors.
What makes Thanksgiving so special?
Thanksgiving is special because it centers on gratitude and togetherness, giving people time to reflect on blessings and share a traditional meal with loved ones.
