Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26: the Striders Turkey Trot 10K starts at 9 a.m. at the Mt. Trashmore YMCA, schools are out Nov. 25-27 and trash shifts.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: race pages on RunSignup for the Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot and the Little Neck Turkey Trot, the City of Virginia Beach’s 2025 Thanksgiving operating schedule and the VBCPS 2026-27 calendar.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Virginia Beach starts the day with two turkey trots: the Tidewater Striders’ 10K and mile at the Mt Trashmore YMCA and an untimed neighborhood fun run in Little Neck. Schools are out Wednesday through Friday. The city has not yet posted its 2026 holiday schedule; the 2025 schedule, below, shows what to expect, and we will update this page when the 2026 notice is out.

Who to call

  • City information: VB311, 311 or 757-385-3111
  • Waste Management: 757-385-4650, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
  • Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (homeless services): 757-491-2846
  • Regional Housing Crisis Hotline: 757-227-5932
  • Emergency: 911; police non-emergency 757-385-5000

Turkey trots

Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot 10K and Mile, Thursday, Nov. 26. The club’s annual race starts and finishes at the Mt Trashmore YMCA, 4441 South Blvd.

Race Start Cutoff
1 mile (out and back in front of the Y) 8:15 a.m. 8:50 a.m.
10K (certified course) 9 a.m. 10:45 a.m.

The 10K loops through Windsor Woods and Mount Trashmore Park and finishes back at the Y. Strollers are allowed if they start at the back; dogs are not. Packet pickup is 1 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the YMCA. Entry fees rise after Nov. 1, so register early on the race page.

Little Neck Turkey Trot and Gobble Wobble, Thursday, Nov. 26. The Little Neck Swim and Racquet Club, 864 Little Neck Road, hosts an untimed 5K and 1-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m. for runners and walkers of all ages. Both routes stay on the Little Neck Road path, and roads are not closed, so watch for traffic at crossings. The club is collecting gently used jeans, khakis, sweatpants, sweatshirts and flannels for the Virginia Beach Housing Resource Center; drop them off before 8:15 a.m. on race morning. Coffee and doughnuts follow the run.

What is open and closed

The city’s 2026 notice is not out yet. This is what the city announced for Thanksgiving 2025:

Who Wednesday Thanksgiving Day Friday
City administrative offices Open Closed Closed
Public libraries Close at 5 p.m. Closed Closed
Courts, clerk’s offices, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Health Department Close at noon Closed Closed
City parks, including Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Open Closed Sunrise to sunset
Recreation centers Open Closed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Virginia Aquarium Open Closed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Landfill and West Neck Recycling Center Open Closed Closed

Virginia Beach City Public Schools are closed Nov. 25-27 under the 2026-27 calendar, and students return Monday, Nov. 30. Stores and restaurants set their own hours; see our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide.

Trash pickup

The city does not collect trash or recycling on Thanksgiving Day. In 2025, Thursday routes were picked up on Saturday and Friday routes did not change, under the city’s operating schedule. The city has changed the pattern before (in 2023, Thursday routes moved to Friday and Friday routes to Saturday), so check the 2026 notice before you roll the cart out. Our trash and recycling guide has your regular schedule.

Giving and getting help

The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, 1053 Virginia Beach Blvd., runs shelter and meals for people experiencing homelessness in the city. Call JCOC at 757-491-2846 to ask about volunteering or holiday donations. Anyone who needs shelter can call the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline at 757-227-5932.

What this means for you

  • Register for the Striders 10K before Nov. 1 for the lower fee, and pick up your packet on Wednesday afternoon.
  • If your trash day is Thursday, plan for Saturday pickup.
  • Do city business by Wednesday; offices are shut Thursday and Friday.

The holiday season starts the next day: see our holiday lights and Christmas events and Christmas parade and tree lighting guides.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Virginia Beach on Thanksgiving?

Yes, two. The Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot starts at the Mt Trashmore YMCA, 4441 South Blvd., with the 1-mile run at 8:15 a.m. and the 10K at 9 a.m. The Little Neck Turkey Trot and Gobble Wobble, an untimed 5K and 1-mile fun run, starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Little Neck Swim and Racquet Club.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Virginia Beach?

Not on the day. In 2025 the city moved Thursday trash and recycling to the Saturday after Thanksgiving and left Friday pickup unchanged. The city had not posted its 2026 notice when we checked on Oct. 19.

When is Thanksgiving break for Virginia Beach City Public Schools?

Schools are closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 25-27, 2026, under the VBCPS calendar. Students return Monday, Nov. 30.

Are Virginia Beach city offices open the day after Thanksgiving?

In 2025, city administrative offices, libraries, courts and the landfill were closed both Thursday and Friday, while parks and recreation centers reopened on Friday. Check the city’s 2026 notice when it is posted.