Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Turkey trots in Charleston and Summerville, schools out Nov. 23-27 and North Charleston trash running a day late.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from each organizer’s own page, linked below.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Charleston County schools are out all week, North Charleston’s garbage trucks run a day late from Thursday, and the region’s big turkey trot fills downtown Charleston, about 8 miles south, on Thanksgiving morning.

Who to call

  • Trash pickup: North Charleston Public Works, 843-745-1026
  • Recycling (Charleston County part of the city): Charleston County Environmental Management, 843-720-7111
  • Holiday Festival of Lights: James Island County Park office, 843-406-6990
  • Black Friday: store hours are on our holiday shopping page

Turkey trots

  • Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K, downtown Charleston. The 5K run and walk starts at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day from Marion Square, with participants lining up in color-coded corrals from 7 a.m. and a kids fun run at 10:30 a.m., according to the race’s registration page. The race says it has been a family tradition for 49 years and raises money for local charities. Walkers with strollers or wagons register for their own corral, which starts last. Packet pickup is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Patriots Hall at the Omar Shrine Auditorium, 176 Patriots Point Road in Mount Pleasant.
  • Fleet Feet Huffin’ for the Stuffin’ 5K, Summerville. The eighth annual run, walk or stroll runs 9 a.m. to noon Thanksgiving Day through the Carnes Crossroads community, starting on Parish Farms Drive near the barn. It costs $40, and registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Nov. 25, the race page says.

No turkey trot inside North Charleston had posted a 2026 date when we checked. Organizers can send theirs through our contact page.

Thanksgiving night lights

Charleston County Parks’ Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park opens for the season Friday, Nov. 13, and is open 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving, according to the festival FAQ. Tickets are priced per vehicle, with lower prices on the quieter “green” nights. Details are on our holiday lights page.

What is open and closed

Service Thanksgiving week 2026
Charleston County schools Closed Monday to Friday, Nov. 23-27; Nov. 23 and 24 are possible weather make-up days (district calendar)
City garbage, yard waste and bulk No collection Thursday, Nov. 26; runs one day late through Friday, or through Saturday in Dorchester County
Friday, Nov. 27 City collection runs
Charleston County recycling Pushed back one day
Northwoods Mall Closed Thanksgiving; Black Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (mall hours)

The trash dates come from the city’s 2026 sanitation holiday schedule. Charleston County says its recycling contractor delays pickup by one day for Thanksgiving, with Saturday pickup if needed. Pickup days, bulk rules and convenience centers are on our trash and recycling page.

Thanksgiving meals and food help

We list free community Thanksgiving dinners and food distributions in North Charleston as the churches, nonprofits and agencies running them post dates on their own pages. Send yours through our contact page.

What this means for you

  • Put the cart out a day late if your garbage day is Thursday or Friday.
  • Schools are out the whole week, so plan child care from Monday, Nov. 23.
  • Register for a turkey trot before Nov. 25; the Summerville race closes online sign-up that night.

More: Black Friday and holiday shopping, holiday lights and Christmas events and the Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Frequently asked questions

Is there trash pickup on Thanksgiving in North Charleston?

No. The city has no garbage collection on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and pickup runs one day late through Friday, or through Saturday in the Dorchester County part of the city. Charleston County recycling is also pushed back one day.

When is Thanksgiving break for Charleston County schools in 2026?

Charleston County School District schools are closed Monday through Friday, Nov. 23-27, 2026. The district marks Nov. 23 and 24 as possible weather make-up days.

Is there a turkey trot near North Charleston on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K starts at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day in downtown Charleston, and Fleet Feet’s Huffin’ for the Stuffin’ 5K starts at 9 a.m. in Carnes Crossroads near Summerville.

Is Northwoods Mall open on Thanksgiving?

No. Northwoods Mall is closed Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and opens at 7 a.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 27, closing at 9 p.m., according to the mall’s holiday hours.