Thanksgiving 2026 in Charlotte: the Turkey Trot at SouthPark Mall Nov. 26 (fees rise after Nov. 21), county offices closed Nov. 26-27 and trash a day late.
Last checked Nov. 2, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from each organizer’s own page and from the city, county and school district, linked below.
Updated Nov. 2: Turkey Trot fees are now $55 for the 8K or 5K and $35 for the 1-mile, and rise again after Saturday, Nov. 21. Still no 2026 community dinner dates published.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Charlotte’s long weekend starts the night before with the Uptown parade and runs into Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
| Date | What | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Nov. 25 | No school for CMS students | Teacher workday |
| Wednesday, Nov. 25 | Thanksgiving Eve Parade | 5:30 p.m., Tryon Street |
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | Charlotte Turkey Trot | From 8 a.m., SouthPark Mall |
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | No city trash pickup; county offices closed | Thursday routes run Friday |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | County offices closed; CMS break | Friday routes run Saturday, Nov. 28 |
Who to call
- Missed pickup or city services: CharMeck 311, 704-336-7600
- Food help: Nourish Up (formerly Loaves & Fishes), 704-523-4333, or its food finder
- Turkey Trot: cltturkeytrot.com
- Emergency: 911
The Charlotte Turkey Trot
The CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot starts and finishes at SouthPark Mall on Thanksgiving morning. Organizers call it a Charlotte tradition for 38 years and the largest road race in North Carolina. The 2026 schedule, from the race registration page:
| Event | Start |
|---|---|
| Harris Teeter 1-Mile Fun Run and Walk | 8 a.m. |
| CPI Security 8K Run | 8:10 a.m. |
| Harris Teeter Tot Trot (50-yard dash, ages 8 and under, free) | 8:30 a.m. |
| CPI Security 5K Run and Walk | 9:10 a.m. |
- Entry is $55 for the 8K or 5K ($50 for ages 18 and under) and $35 for the 1-mile; the Tot Trot is free. Prices go up again after Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11:59 p.m. Registration closes Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m. or sooner if the race sells out, as it has the last three years.
- The race site lists a costume contest, a beer garden with Suffolk Punch Brewing and Legion Brewing, coffee trucks and age-group awards.
- Packets can be picked up in advance at nine sites, three of them at SouthPark.
Thanksgiving Eve Parade
The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, on Tryon Street in Uptown. It is free and runs rain or shine. Route, parking and viewing tips are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
Community dinners and food help
As of Nov. 2, no free community Thanksgiving dinner in Charlotte had published 2026 dates on its own website. We will add them here as organizers announce them. For groceries before the holiday, Nourish Up runs food pantries across Mecklenburg County; its food finder lists locations, or call 704-523-4333. Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina has a find food map.
What is open and closed
- Mecklenburg County government offices: closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, according to the county Park and Recreation closings calendar.
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: no classes Wednesday, Nov. 25 (teacher workday), or Nov. 26-27 (Thanksgiving break), according to the 2026-27 traditional calendar (PDF). Classes resume Monday, Nov. 30.
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: the library had not posted its 2026 Thanksgiving hours as of Nov. 2. Check cmlibrary.org or call your branch before you go.
- Stores: for Black Friday hours, see our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.
Trash and recycling
The city’s 2026 holiday collection schedule has no collection on Thanksgiving Day:
- Thursday routes are picked up Friday, Nov. 27.
- Friday routes are picked up Saturday, Nov. 28.
- Monday through Wednesday routes run as normal.
Recycling weeks, bulky items and the rest of the holiday calendar are on our trash and recycling page.
What this means for you
- Thanksgiving morning traffic around SouthPark is heavy during the Turkey Trot; plan around it if you are driving to family, and check our road construction and closures page. For Uptown parking on parade night, see our getting around page.
- Register for the Turkey Trot by Nov. 21 to beat the last price rise.
- Put your cart out a day late if your trash day is Thursday or Friday.
- More holiday plans: holiday lights and Christmas events and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Charlotte Turkey Trot in 2026?
The CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, at SouthPark Mall. The 1-mile run starts at 8 a.m., the 8K at 8:10 a.m., the Tot Trot at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at 9:10 a.m.
Is Charlotte trash pickup delayed for Thanksgiving 2026?
Yes. The city collects no trash on Thursday, Nov. 26. Thursday routes are picked up Friday, Nov. 27, and Friday routes on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Are Mecklenburg County offices closed for Thanksgiving?
Yes. County government offices are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, 2026.
When is CMS Thanksgiving break in 2026?
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has no classes Nov. 25-27, 2026. Wednesday, Nov. 25, is a teacher workday and Nov. 26-27 is Thanksgiving break.
When is the Charlotte Thanksgiving parade?
The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade is Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. on Tryon Street in Uptown, the night before Thanksgiving.
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