Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. Two turkey trots start at 9 a.m., city offices close Nov. 26-27, and Thursday trash pickup moves to Friday.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Race details come from each race’s registration page; closings, trash and parking from the City of Charlottesville and school dates from the Charlottesville City Schools 2026-27 calendar.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. Two turkey trots start at 9 a.m., city offices close Thursday and Friday, trash pickup slides a day for the rest of the week, and Charlottesville City Schools students have Wednesday through Friday off. We will add community dinners and other events as organizers announce them.

What this means for you

  • Run: Boar’s Head Turkey Trot or the Charlottesville Turkey Trot, both 9 a.m. Thursday.
  • Trash: none on Thursday. Thursday routes move to Friday, Nov. 27; Friday routes to Saturday, Nov. 28.
  • City Hall: closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27.
  • Schools: no classes Nov. 25-27.

Turkey trots, Thursday, Nov. 26

45th Annual Boar’s Head Turkey Trot 5K. The race starts and ends at Boar’s Head Resort, 200 Ednam Drive, west of the University of Virginia, and benefits UVA Health Children’s. The race page calls the course “very hilly.”

  • Tiny Turkeys quarter-mile dash: free, ages 8 and under, gathering by the finish at 8:15 a.m.
  • 5K start: 9 a.m. Organizers ask runners to arrive by 8 a.m. Parking at the resort is limited, so carpool.
  • Registration: online until 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25; the price rises after Nov. 18.
  • Packet pickup: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Three Notch’d Brewing Company; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 24 and 25 at the McArthur Squash Center at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
  • No pets on the course. The post-race social ends at 11 a.m.

Charlottesville Turkey Trot 5K. This race starts and finishes next to Albemarle High School, just north of the city in Albemarle County, on a neighborhood course with gentle hills. The race page says proceeds go to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.

  • Start: 9 a.m. Parking is at Albemarle High School, Journey Middle School and Greer Elementary.
  • Packet pickup: 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, and 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Connect Church, 2080 Lambs Road, across from the high school; race morning 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. at the school’s main track entrance.
  • Prices: the entry fee goes up after Nov. 1, and late registration from 6 p.m. Nov. 25 costs more again.
  • No dogs; strollers only in the last wave. A virtual 5K is also offered.

What is open and closed

Wed. Nov. 25 Thu. Nov. 26 Fri. Nov. 27
City offices Open Closed Closed
Carver Recreation Center 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Key and Tonsler recreation centers Noon to 4 p.m. Closed Noon to 6 p.m.
Crow Recreation Center Closed Closed Closed

Recreation center hours come from Parks and Recreation’s FY27 holiday hours sheet; office closings from the city’s holiday calendar.

  • Parking: the Market Street and Water Street garages are free on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Buses: Charlottesville Area Transit ran regular service on Thanksgiving and the day after in 2025. Check its holiday schedule for 2026 before you ride.

Trash and recycling

The city’s rule is that there is no trash or recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, and service resumes the next working day and runs a day behind through Saturday. Thursday routes go out Friday, Nov. 27, and Friday routes Saturday, Nov. 28. Monday to Wednesday routes are not affected. Leaf collection is under way that week; see our trash and leaf guide for zones.

Schools

Charlottesville City Schools students are off Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Nov. 27, with Thursday a paid holiday for staff. Classes resume Monday, Nov. 30. See our schools guide.

The weekend after

Hosting a free community meal or a food drive? Tell us with the date, time, place and a link, and we will add it.

Related guides: things to do this month and getting around Charlottesville.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Charlottesville on Thanksgiving 2026?

Two. The 45th Boar’s Head Turkey Trot 5K starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at Boar’s Head Resort, and the Charlottesville Turkey Trot 5K starts at 9 a.m. next to Albemarle High School.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Charlottesville?

No. The city does not collect trash or recycling on Thanksgiving Day. Pickup runs a day behind for the rest of the week, so Thursday routes move to Friday, Nov. 27, and Friday routes to Saturday, Nov. 28.

Are Charlottesville city offices open the day after Thanksgiving?

No. City offices are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27. Carver, Smith, Key and Tonsler recreation centers reopen Friday on shorter hours.

When is Thanksgiving break for Charlottesville City Schools?

Students are off Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Nov. 27, on the division’s 2026-27 calendar, and return Monday, Nov. 30.

Is downtown parking free on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The city’s Market Street and Water Street garages are free on Thanksgiving Day.