Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. The Daytona Beach Turkey Trot starts at 9:30 a.m., the Turkey Run fills the speedway Nov. 25-29 and trash moves a day.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from each organizer’s own page, the City of Daytona Beach holiday trash schedule and the Volusia County Schools 2026-27 calendar (PDF).

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. In Daytona Beach the holiday starts with the Turkey Trot 5K on the beachside at 9:30 a.m. and runs all weekend at Daytona International Speedway, where the Daytona Turkey Run car show and swap meet fills the infield Nov. 25-29. There is no trash pickup on Thanksgiving Day, and public schools are out all week.

Who to call

  • Trash and recycling: City of Daytona Beach Solid Waste, 386-671-8670
  • City Hall: 301 S. Ridgewood Ave.; 386-671-8400
  • Break camp registration: DaytonaBeach.gov/Activities
  • Traffic around the speedway: FL511

Turkey trot

The 7th Annual Daytona Beach Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, from 471 S. Atlantic Ave. on the beachside, according to its registration page. Events:

  • 5K run/walk, chip timed
  • Youth 5K, chip timed
  • Kids Trot, a short dash for young children
  • Virtual 5K

Every participant gets a finisher medal, and age-group winners get custom awards, the organizers say. Registration is open on the race page.

Daytona Turkey Run, Nov. 25-29

The 53rd Daytona Turkey Run, billed as the largest combined classic car show and swap meet in the country, runs from Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 29, in the infield at Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., according to its listing with the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Turkey Run site. Expect:

  • More than 7,000 classic cars on display
  • A swap meet for parts and memorabilia
  • A car corral where owners sell classic cars
  • Turkey Run Nights, a free evening car show, Wednesday through Saturday
  • The Hops & Hoods Beer Festival

Admission is charged; children 11 and under get in free. The city lists the Turkey Run among its annual special events. Expect heavy traffic on International Speedway Boulevard all weekend.

Holiday lights open the same week

Magic of Lights, the drive-through light show at the speedway, opens Friday, Nov. 20, and runs 7 to 10 p.m. nightly over Thanksgiving week, Nov. 25-29. Details are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

Community dinners

We have not yet found a free community Thanksgiving dinner for 2026 announced on an organizer’s own page. Churches, nonprofits and restaurants that serve a public meal can send us the details and we will list them here with times and addresses.

What is open and closed

  • Trash: no curbside pickup of garbage, yard waste or recycling on Thanksgiving Day. The city says collection is typically the following day. Every other November holiday, including Veterans Day on Nov. 11, runs on the normal schedule.
  • Public schools: Volusia County Schools’ Thanksgiving holiday runs Nov. 23-27; classes resume Monday, Nov. 30.
  • City Hall: the city had not posted its Thanksgiving office schedule as of Oct. 8. Call 386-671-8400 the week before.
  • Stores: holiday hours for Volusia Mall and Tanger Outlets are on our Black Friday and holiday shopping page as the centers publish them.

Thanksgiving break camp

The city runs a Thanksgiving Break Camp for children in grades K-5 on Nov. 23-25 at Schnebly Recreation Center, 1101 N. Atlantic Ave., according to the city’s announcement. Camp days run 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parents send breakfast, lunch and a snack. Last year’s camp included games, crafts and a Thanksgiving lunch. Spots are first come, first served; register at DaytonaBeach.gov/Activities.

What this means for you

  • Run or walk the Turkey Trot at 9:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning on the beachside.
  • Leave extra time on International Speedway Boulevard Nov. 25-29.
  • If Thursday is your garbage day, expect pickup on Friday instead; call 386-671-8670 to check.

Related: trash and recycling, Black Friday and holiday shopping and Daytona Beach schools.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Daytona Beach on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The 7th Annual Daytona Beach Turkey Trot 5K starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, from 471 S. Atlantic Ave., with a chip-timed 5K, a youth 5K, a short Kids Trot and a virtual option.

When is the Daytona Turkey Run in 2026?

The 53rd Daytona Turkey Run is Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 29, in the infield at Daytona International Speedway, with more than 7,000 classic cars, a swap meet and a car corral.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Daytona Beach?

No. The city has no curbside pickup on Thanksgiving Day, and collection is typically the following day, according to its holiday trash schedule.

When is Thanksgiving break for Volusia County Schools?

The Thanksgiving holiday runs Nov. 23-27, 2026, and classes resume Monday, Nov. 30, according to the district calendar.