People shop at <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/25/economy/black-friday-mall-of-america/index.html" target="_blank">the Mall of America</a> in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Black Friday, the symbolic start of the holiday shopping season.
In pictures: Thanksgiving week in America
People shop at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Black Friday, the symbolic start of the holiday shopping season.
Jamie Kelter Davis for CNN

Updated 5:31 PM EST, Fri November 25, 2022

This year's Thanksgiving is expected to be the biggest holiday travel season since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, food prices associated with inflation and other factors have made this Thanksgiving one of the most expensive in recent history.

On Thursday, people across the country watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, held every year in New York City.

Then the holiday shopping season officially kicked into gear with Black Friday.

Hundreds of people line up for Black Friday outside the Mall of America in Bloomington. At 5.6 million square feet, it's <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/25/economy/black-friday-mall-of-america/index.html" target="_blank">the nation's largest shopping and entertainment center</a>.
Hundreds of people line up for Black Friday outside the Mall of America in Bloomington. At 5.6 million square feet, it's the nation's largest shopping and entertainment center.
Jamie Kelter Davis for CNN
A Pikachu balloon floats during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 24.
A Pikachu balloon floats during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 24.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Christmas lights at the Country Club Plaza shopping district in Kansas City, Missouri, are switched on amidst fireworks on Thursday. The Thanksgiving night ceremony featuring more than 200,000 bulbs covering a 15-block area has been a tradition for more 90 years at the shopping center, marking the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Christmas lights at the Country Club Plaza shopping district in Kansas City, Missouri, are switched on amidst fireworks on Thursday. The Thanksgiving night ceremony featuring more than 200,000 bulbs covering a 15-block area has been a tradition for more 90 years at the shopping center, marking the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Charlie Riedel/AP
Macy's Great American Marching Band performs on Thursday.
Macy's Great American Marching Band performs on Thursday.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs bites into a turkey leg after a Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs bites into a turkey leg after a Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.
Lon Horwedel/USA Today Sports
Performers on the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree float wave to spectators on Thursday.
Performers on the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree float wave to spectators on Thursday.
Jeenah Moon/AP
Balloons are inflated at the Macy's parade in New York.
Balloons are inflated at the Macy's parade in New York.
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-2022-preview/index.html" target="_blank">The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade</a> dates back to 1924. About 3 million spectators were expected to line the parade route to watch this year, organizers said.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade dates back to 1924. About 3 million spectators were expected to line the parade route to watch this year, organizers said.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
In this image, made with a long exposure, vehicles move along Interstate 76 in Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 23.
In this image, made with a long exposure, vehicles move along Interstate 76 in Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 23.
Matt Rourke/AP
Easton Gunsell, 11, cries after rushing into his brother Braden Locker's arms for a hug in Flushing, Michigan, on Tuesday, November 22. Locker, a 20-year-old airman stationed in Saudi Arabia, was home on leave and surprised his brother at school.
Easton Gunsell, 11, cries after rushing into his brother Braden Locker's arms for a hug in Flushing, Michigan, on Tuesday, November 22. Locker, a 20-year-old airman stationed in Saudi Arabia, was home on leave and surprised his brother at school.
Jake May/AP
Travelers navigate a security checkpoint at Denver International Airport on Tuesday.
Travelers navigate a security checkpoint at Denver International Airport on Tuesday.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Eliana Chavez, 3, waits in line with her mother at La Colaborativa's Thanksgiving holiday food pantry, where an estimated 10,000 boxes of food were expected to be distributed to residents in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.
Eliana Chavez, 3, waits in line with her mother at La Colaborativa's Thanksgiving holiday food pantry, where an estimated 10,000 boxes of food were expected to be distributed to residents in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Travelers walk through New York's Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday.
Travelers walk through New York's Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Heavy traffic moves along Interstate 395 in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. The American Automobile Association predicts nearly 55 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving this year.
Heavy traffic moves along Interstate 395 in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. The American Automobile Association predicts nearly 55 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving this year.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
President Joe Biden serves food at a Thanksgiving dinner for military members and their families at an air station in Havelock, North Carolina, on Monday, November 21.
President Joe Biden serves food at a Thanksgiving dinner for military members and their families at an air station in Havelock, North Carolina, on Monday, November 21.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Travelers pass through San Francisco International Airport on Monday.
Travelers pass through San Francisco International Airport on Monday.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Biden attends the traditional White House ceremony to "pardon" a couple of turkeys on Monday. This year's turkeys were named Chocolate and Chip.
Biden attends the traditional White House ceremony to "pardon" a couple of turkeys on Monday. This year's turkeys were named Chocolate and Chip.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Free Thanksgiving turkeys are distributed Monday at the Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Free Thanksgiving turkeys are distributed Monday at the Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images