Thanksgiving 2026 in Durham: TROSA Turkey Trot 8 a.m. Nov. 26, free dinner at the Durham Rescue Mission, 300 meals to go and Thursday trash moved to Friday.

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. The City of Durham had not posted its 2026 holiday notice when we checked; the closings below are from its 2025 Thanksgiving notice and are marked as such. We will update this page when the 2026 notice is out.

Updated Nov. 3: the Durham Rescue Mission’s free community dinner is added, and the trot’s entry fee is now $40.

Thanksgiving in Durham starts early with a 5K through the Lakewood neighborhood, then turns quiet: city offices, recreation centers and the One Call line close, buses run a Sunday schedule and Thursday’s trash moves to Friday.

Who to call

  • Durham One Call (city services): 919-560-1200, closed on the holiday
  • Water main breaks and sewer overflows after hours and on holidays: 919-560-4344
  • GoDurham: 919-485-RIDE (7433)
  • Durham Parks and Recreation: 919-560-4355
  • Emergency: 911

TROSA Turkey Trot 5K

8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, TROSA, 1820 James St. The sixth annual race starts and finishes on TROSA’s campus and follows a rolling route around the campus and the Lakewood neighborhood, according to the race’s registration page. TROSA is a Durham residential recovery program, and Bull City Running Co. presents the race (race website).

  • Packet pickup: 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Bull City Running Co. downtown, 501 Washington St., Suite D; or 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. race morning at TROSA.
  • Parking: at M&F Corporate Center, 2634 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., with two shuttles to the campus.
  • Entry: $40 on the race page now, with registration open until the 8 a.m. start. Cash prizes go to the top three men and women.
  • Walking in: the start is about half a mile from the M&F parking lot if you prefer to skip the shuttle.

Free Thanksgiving meals

Durham Rescue Mission, 1201 E. Main St., holds its 52nd annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner outdoors on its campus. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the meal starts at noon, according to the mission’s event page. It is free: a hot turkey dinner and hot dogs, a bag of groceries for every family, carnival games for children and free clothing. The mission is asking for volunteers, turkeys and new bicycles at 919-688-9641, ext. 5025.

West 94th St. Pub, 4711 Hope Valley Road in the Woodcroft Shopping Center, hands out 300 free Thanksgiving meals to go from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, curbside, first come, first served, according to its listing with Discover Durham.

Churches, nonprofits and restaurants serving a community dinner can send the details through our contact page and we will add them.

Trash and recycling

The city’s 2026 collection calendar moves Thursday pickups to Friday, Nov. 27, for garbage, recycling and yard waste. In 2025 the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, the Yard Waste Facility and the Household Hazardous Waste Center closed on Thanksgiving and the Saturday after, and opened as normal on the Friday. Check your street in the Durham Rollout app; our trash and recycling page has the rest of the calendar.

What is open and closed

From the city’s 2025 notice; the 2026 pattern is expected to match, but confirm when the city posts it:

Service Thanksgiving week (2025 pattern)
City Hall and most city offices Closed Thursday and Friday
Durham Parks and Recreation centers Close at 6 p.m. Wednesday; closed Thursday and Friday
Durham One Call Closed Thursday and Friday; online requests, the app, text 919-813-6315 or voicemail at 919-560-1200
GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS Sunday-level service, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Thanksgiving
Downtown parking Free on city holidays in on-street spaces, city surface lots and some city garages
Park Durham customer service center Closed Thursday and Friday

Durham County offices and the county library set their own holiday hours; check dconc.gov before you go. Grocery stores and pharmacies set their own hours too.

The weekend after

  • Shop Small Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Durham Central Park: the Durham Craft Market’s annual market of handmade gifts, next to the Durham Farmers’ Market.
  • Store hours, Small Business Saturday and holiday markets are on our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.
  • The Durham Holiday Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12; see the Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

What this means for you

  • Thursday trash customers: roll carts out Friday morning, Nov. 27.
  • Running the trot? Pick up your packet Wednesday to skip the race-morning line.
  • Need a city service over the long weekend? File it online or in the Durham One Call app; staff pick it up the next business day.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Durham on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The sixth annual TROSA Turkey Trot 5K starts at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, on TROSA’s campus at 1820 James St. Parking is at M&F Corporate Center with shuttles to the start.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Durham?

No. The city’s 2026 collection calendar moves Thursday pickups to Friday, Nov. 27. Garbage, recycling and yard waste all shift.

Is Durham City Hall open the day after Thanksgiving?

No, if the city follows its usual schedule. In 2025 the City of Durham closed most offices, including City Hall, on both Thanksgiving and the Friday after.

Do GoDurham buses run on Thanksgiving?

In 2025 GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS ran Sunday-level service from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Check 919-485-RIDE (7433) for the 2026 schedule.

Where can I get a free Thanksgiving meal in Durham?

The Durham Rescue Mission serves its 52nd annual free Thanksgiving dinner outdoors at 1201 E. Main St.; doors open at 11 a.m. and the meal starts at noon. West 94th St. Pub, 4711 Hope Valley Road, hands out 300 free meals to go, curbside, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.