Christmas Eve Store Hours for Groceries, Pharmacies/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ morning Edition/ Most grocery and drugstores close early on Christmas Eve, limiting last-minute shopping options. Hours vary widely by retailer and location, with many stores closed on Christmas Day. Shoppers are urged to plan ahead, especially for groceries, prescriptions, and lottery tickets.
Christmas Eve Store Hours Quick Looks
- Christmas Eve is one of the busiest grocery shopping days
- Most major chains close early and shut completely on Christmas Day
- Drugstore hours vary, especially for in-store pharmacies
- Store hours differ by location, even within the same chain
- Early closures may affect Powerball ticket sales
Deep Look: Christmas Eve Store Hours
Last-minute holiday shoppers will find fewer options this Christmas Eve as most grocery stores shorten their hours and many drugstores operate on modified schedules. Christmas Eve consistently ranks among the busiest grocery shopping days of the year, yet it also offers some of the most limited access, especially as retailers prepare to close for Christmas Day.
Consumers searching for forgotten ingredients, last-minute party supplies, or essential household items are encouraged to plan ahead. Many of the nation’s largest grocery chains will be closed entirely on Christmas Day, making Christmas Eve the final opportunity to shop in person before the holiday.
Grocery Store Hours on Christmas Eve
Store hours vary by location, but the following reflects typical Christmas Eve schedules for major grocery retailers:
- Acme Market: All locations close at 6 p.m.; limited Christmas Day openings
- Albertsons: Hours vary by store; many closed Christmas Day
- Aldi: Most locations close at 4 p.m.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Costco: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for executive members; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all members
- Food Lion: Stores close at 7 p.m.; pharmacies open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The Fresh Market: Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Giant Eagle: Closes at 5 p.m.
- Giant Food: Open until 6 p.m.
- Harris Teeter: All stores close at 7 p.m.
- H-E-B: Closes at 8 p.m.
- Hy-Vee: Most stores close at 5 p.m.
- Jewel-Osco: Most locations close at 6 p.m.
- Kroger: Early closures vary across Kroger-owned stores
- Lidl: Closes at 6 p.m.
- Meijer: Open until 7 p.m.
- Publix: Closes early at 7 p.m.
- Ralphs: Closes at 10 p.m.; most stores closed Christmas Day
- Safeway: Hours vary; some locations open Christmas Day
- Sam’s Club: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Plus members; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all members
- Sprouts Farmers Market: Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Stop & Shop: Closes at 6 p.m.
- Target: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Trader Joe’s: All locations close at 5 p.m.
- Walmart: Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wegmans: Closes at 6 p.m.
- Whole Foods Market: Most stores close at 7 p.m.
- Winn-Dixie: Open until 9 p.m.
Drugstore Hours on Christmas Eve
Drugstores may remain open later than grocery stores, but pharmacy counters often close early or shut down entirely on Christmas Day.
- CVS: Store and pharmacy hours vary; many locations open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but pharmacies may be closed
- Walgreens: Most stores open regular hours Christmas Eve; pharmacy hours vary; many locations open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Day
Powerball Ticket Reminder
Shoppers planning to buy lottery tickets should be mindful of early store closures. The Christmas Eve Powerball drawing is scheduled for the evening, with an estimated jackpot of $1.7 billion and a cash value of $781.3 million, making it the fourth-largest prize in U.S. history. Retailers that sell tickets may stop sales earlier than usual due to holiday hours.
Planning Ahead Matters
Because hours can vary significantly by location, shoppers are encouraged to check their local store listings before heading out. With grocery stores, pharmacies, and big-box retailers all operating on reduced schedules, waiting until the last minute could mean empty shelves or locked doors.
For many Americans, Christmas Eve errands are part of the holiday tradition. This year, as in most years, careful planning will be essential to ensure everything is in place before stores go dark for Christmas Day.
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