From Fall to Christmas: Switching Your Porch Before Thanksgiving (2026)

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year, and for a lot of families in Rocklin, Roseville and Folsom that’s the week the house fills up. If your porch still has October pumpkins and tired mums on it, this is the natural moment to switch. Here’s a simple way to go from fall to Christmas without the porch looking half-finished while guests are arriving.

Like all of our Christmas porches, everything below uses fresh greenery, ribbon and live plants with no lights. Your porch light and any lanterns you already own carry the evening.

The short version

• Clear out anything carved, soft or frost-bitten first; it won’t make it to Thanksgiving.
• Decide whether you want Christmas up for Thanksgiving guests or right after. Both work.
• A fresh wreath with a neutral ribbon bridges the two holidays better than anything else.
• If you want it done for you before the 26th, book an install date between November 15 and 25.

1. Before Thanksgiving or after?

There’s no wrong answer. Families hosting Thanksgiving often like the Christmas porch already up so the first photos of the season, and the first impression when relatives pull into the driveway, look finished. Others prefer to keep Thanksgiving its own holiday and decorate that Friday or weekend. Our guide to when to put up Christmas porch decor walks through sun, wind and HOA timing. Fresh greenery put up in mid-to-late November in our mild valley weather generally looks good well into December, especially on a covered entry.

2. What to do with pumpkins and gourds

• Carved pumpkins: by mid-November they’re usually done. Compost them or put them in your green waste bin if your city accepts food scraps there.
• Whole pumpkins: uncarved pumpkins often last well past Thanksgiving in our cool nights. Check the bottoms for soft spots; anything soft goes.
• Keeping a few? White, green or heirloom pumpkins can sit tucked beside Christmas greenery for Thanksgiving week, then come out when December starts. Orange jack-o’-lanterns fight with red and green, so those go first.

3. Mums, corn stalks and hay bales

Potted mums that have finished blooming can be cut back and planted in the garden, or simply moved off the porch. Corn stalks and straw bales tend to look tired by late November and shed everywhere, so they’re usually the first thing to clear. Wipe down the porch floor, the door and any planters you plan to reuse; a clean surface is what makes fresh greenery look crisp.

4. The bridge piece: a fresh wreath

A fresh evergreen wreath with a natural, ivory or deep burgundy ribbon reads as “harvest” during Thanksgiving week and “Christmas” the moment December arrives. It’s the easiest way to avoid two separate decorating days. Our ribbon and bow color guide has combinations for every door color, and the wreath size guide helps you get the proportions right.

5. Planters: refill instead of replace

If your fall planters held mums or pumpkins, the containers themselves can usually stay. Empty them and refill with fresh cut greens in three layers: something tall in the center, a full middle and something spilling over the edge. Our planter and urn ideas cover sizing and placement in detail.

6. Hosting Thanksgiving? Think about the walkway

With extra guests, coats, kids and casserole dishes coming through the door, keep the walking line clear and urns on level ground. If you’re planning family photos on the porch, our photo and party prep guide covers timing and styling. Have a dog greeting everyone at the door? Our pet-friendly porch ideas help with placement.

Want it done before your guests arrive?

We install from November 15 to December 20, every day, with 4 PM or 6 PM arrival windows, and you don’t need to be home (see how we decorate while you’re out). If you want the porch finished for Thanksgiving, pick a date between November 15 and 25, and please clear away pumpkins and fall decor beforehand, or tell us in your request what should stay. We review a photo of every entry before final acceptance.

• Joyful Door ($349): a full fresh wreath and 18-20 ft of door garland.
• Welcome Porch ($599, most popular): wreath, door garland, a pair of styled urns or planters and velvet bows.
• Merry & Bright ($899): everything in Welcome Porch plus 2 live mini trees, a second wreath or swag and poinsettias; a good fit for homes with steps.
• Grand Celebration ($1,299+): everything in Merry & Bright plus 20-30 ft of staircase or railing garland and larger trees and urns.
• Larger or unusual entries: request a custom quote.

Not sure which fits? Read which package fits your home or what a Christmas porch costs, or text a photo of your entry to (916) 289-2538. Delivery is free within 15 miles of Rocklin, and we serve Rocklin, Roseville, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Loomis, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Auburn and greater Sacramento; see ideas for Rocklin, Roseville, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Folsom and El Dorado Hills and Sacramento, or all service areas. In an HOA, check our HOA and gated community guide. Optional removal after the holidays is $125, or $150 for Merry & Bright and Grand Celebration. If you’re reading this in December, see our last-minute Christmas porch guide.

Ready to switch from fall to Christmas? See our Christmas porch packages or pick your install date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I put up Christmas porch decor before Thanksgiving?

Either is fine. Many families hosting Thanksgiving like the Christmas porch up so it looks finished when guests arrive, while others decorate Thanksgiving weekend. Fresh greenery put up in mid-to-late November usually looks good well into December in our mild Sacramento-area weather, especially on a covered entry.

What should I do with pumpkins after Halloween?

Carved pumpkins are usually done by mid-November, so compost them or use your green waste bin if your city allows food scraps. Uncarved pumpkins often last past Thanksgiving; check the bottoms for soft spots. White, green or heirloom pumpkins can sit beside Christmas greenery for Thanksgiving week.

Can I keep some fall decor with Christmas greenery?

Yes, for a week or two. Neutral pumpkins and a natural or burgundy ribbon blend with fresh evergreens through Thanksgiving. Bright orange pumpkins, corn stalks and hay bales clash with Christmas colors and are best cleared first.

Can you install a Christmas porch before Thanksgiving 2026?

Yes. Installs run November 15 to December 20 with 4 PM or 6 PM arrival windows, so dates from November 15 to 25 are finished before Thanksgiving on November 26, as long as they are open. You do not need to be home.

Do you remove my fall decorations?

Please clear pumpkins and fall decor before your install date, or tell us in your request what should stay. We review a photo of every entry before final acceptance.

Do your Christmas porches include lights?

No. All of our Christmas porches use fresh greenery, ribbon and live plants with no lights. Packages are Joyful Door $349, Welcome Porch $599, Merry & Bright $899 and Grand Celebration $1,299+, with free delivery within 15 miles of Rocklin.

Related Reading

• When to put up Christmas porch decor in the Sacramento area
• Getting your porch ready for Christmas photos and parties
• Christmas planter and urn ideas for your front porch
• Christmas ribbon and bow colors for your front door
• How to keep fresh Christmas greenery looking good
• Last-minute Christmas porch decorating in December
• Which Christmas porch package fits your home?