Thanksgiving in Atlanta 2026: turkey trot, MARTA and trash

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Times and schedules come from the organizer, MARTA and the City of Atlanta, linked below.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. The day starts with Atlanta’s biggest morning race; city trash pickup slides one day, and MARTA runs a Sunday schedule.

At a glance

• Thanksgiving Day race: half marathon 7:45 a.m., 5K 8:15 a.m., Center Parc Stadium
• Trash and recycling: one-day delay for the week of Thanksgiving
• MARTA: Sunday schedules Thursday; Saturday-based schedules Friday
• City services questions: dial 311 or use ATL311

The Thanksgiving Day half marathon and 5K

Atlanta Track Club’s Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash starts and finishes outside Center Parc Stadium, Georgia State University’s stadium at 755 Hank Aaron Drive SE. The club says it is the largest Thanksgiving Day half marathon in the country and that it sells out; the course runs through Summerhill, Grant Park and other neighborhoods. Source: Atlanta Track Club event page.

• Dogs and strollers are allowed only in the 5K, in their own wave; the club’s rules apply.
• Parking is free in the stadium’s Orange, Blue, Green and Grey lots. The club asks runners to carpool and arrive an hour before the start.
• Road closures: the club publishes a turn-by-turn course and closure sheet. The course runs through Summerhill and Grant Park; the finish line closes at 11:30 a.m.

Registration prices step up through Nov. 20 and are highest at number pickup; the event page lists each tier.

Trash and recycling pickup

The City of Atlanta’s 2026 Solid Waste Services holiday collection schedule lists a one-day delay for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26. Check your own day with the city’s collection tool or the 311 line. Questions go to 311 or ATL311. Source: Public Works service announcements.

MARTA over the holiday

From MARTA’s 2026 holiday operating schedule:

Sunday schedules mean longer waits between trains than on a normal Thursday; allow extra time.

Thanksgiving week after dark

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, opens Nov. 14 and runs nightly through Jan. 10, 2027, so it is open over the holiday weekend. Entry runs until 11 p.m. and the show stays lit until midnight; timed tickets are sold only by the garden (Garden Lights page). More in our holiday lights and Christmas events guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Atlanta on Thanksgiving 2026? Yes. Atlanta Track Club’s half marathon starts at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, outside Center Parc Stadium, with a 5K at 8:15 a.m., a mile at 8:25 a.m. and kids’ dashes from 9 a.m.

Is Atlanta trash pickup delayed for Thanksgiving? Yes, by one day. Call 311 with questions.

Does MARTA run on Thanksgiving? Yes, on Sunday schedules for buses, trains and the streetcar. Friday runs on Saturday-based schedules.

Can I bring my dog or a stroller to the Thanksgiving Day race? Only in the 5K, which has a dedicated wave for dogs on leashes and strollers.

What this means for you

• Trash and recycling run a day late in Thanksgiving week; check your day with 311.
• Check the race’s closure sheet if you drive near Center Parc Stadium, Summerhill or Grant Park on Thanksgiving morning.
• Black Friday store hours, Small Business Saturday and holiday markets are in our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide.

Related: things to do this weekend and holiday lights and Christmas events.