Thanksgiving in Pensacola 2026: turkey trots, closings, trash

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Race details come from each organizer’s page; closings and trash changes from the City of Pensacola’s 2026 holiday collection schedule.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Pensacola starts the day with two turkey trots, one through downtown and one on the sand at Pensacola Beach. City offices close Thursday and Friday, and the city’s Thursday garbage routes move up a day to Wednesday.

Who to call

• City of Pensacola Sanitation: 850-435-1890
• City services: 311 or 850-436-5555
• ECUA (trash and water in unincorporated Escambia County): 850-476-0480
• Emergencies: 911

Turkey trots

Pensacola Turkey Trot 5K, downtown

The Pensacola Turkey Trot 5k starts and finishes in front of Seville Square, 399 S. Alcaniz St., and loops through downtown Pensacola. There is a 5K run and a 5K walk, both at 8 a.m., and walkers can win awards too.

• Packet pickup: 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Running Wild, or 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. race day at Seville Square.
• After the race: food and refreshments for participants, and an awards ceremony in the Seville Square pavilion. The organizers say they have a permit that allows runners to bring their own drinks to the post-race party.
• Price: registration goes up after Nov. 11.
• Parking: street parking around the square; the organizers note that city rules apply and payment is required after two hours.

Pensacola Beach Turkey Trot for Thought

The 16th annual Pensacola Beach Turkey Trot starts at 20 Casino Beach Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach. The Kid’s Turkey Dash is at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m., with a costume contest. Proceeds benefit brain cancer research at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, and in 2026 the race also partners with Children in Crisis, a Northwest Florida foster care nonprofit.

• Packet and T-shirt pickup: noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Laguna’s, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd., or race day at the Gulfside Pavilion.
• T-shirts go to the first 1,500 5K runners and the first 100 Turkey Dash runners.

Trash pickup changes

The city’s 2026 holiday collection schedule for Thanksgiving week:

Carts go out by 6 a.m. on collection day, within 2 feet of the curb with the lid facing the street. For more, see our trash and recycling guide.

If you live outside the city limits, your trash is collected by ECUA, which posts its own holiday schedule on its advisories page; call 850-476-0480.

What is open and closed

• City of Pensacola offices: closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, both listed as 2026 city holidays on the city’s holiday schedule.
• Federal offices and post offices: closed Thursday; Thanksgiving is a federal holiday.
• Schools: Escambia County Public Schools’ fall break is Nov. 23-27, the whole of Thanksgiving week, according to the district calendar on our schools page.
• Libraries: check holiday hours with West Florida Public Libraries at mywfpl.com.
• Stores: see our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide for store hours as each center publishes them.

Community dinners

No Pensacola nonprofit had posted 2026 details for a free Thanksgiving dinner on its own site as of Oct. 10. We will add them as they are announced. Organizers can send details through our contact page.

After Hurricane Isaias

The storm came ashore near Destin on Oct. 9. If cleanup affects races, pickup or city services around the holiday, we will post the change here. See our hurricane guide for the latest.

What this means for you

• Both trots start around 8 a.m. Thursday; pick up packets early to skip race-day lines.
• Put your carts out a day early if you are on a Thursday route.
• Plan city business for before Wednesday; offices are closed Thursday and Friday.

Related: Halloween events in Pensacola, holiday lights and Christmas events, the Christmas parade and tree lighting and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Pensacola on Thanksgiving 2026?

Yes, two. The Pensacola Turkey Trot 5K starts at 8 a.m. at Seville Square downtown, and the Pensacola Beach Turkey Trot starts at 8:30 a.m. at Casino Beach, with a kids’ dash at 8 a.m. Both are Thursday, Nov. 26.

Is Pensacola trash pickup changed for Thanksgiving?

Yes. The city’s Thursday garbage routes are collected on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Monday, Tuesday and Friday routes do not change, according to the city’s 2026 holiday schedule.

Are Pensacola city offices closed on Thanksgiving?

The City of Pensacola lists both Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, as 2026 city holidays. Call 311 or 850-436-5555 for city services.

Where do I pick up my turkey trot packet?

For the downtown race, at Running Wild from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, or at Seville Square from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. race day. For the beach race, at Laguna’s, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd., noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 24-25, or at the Gulfside Pavilion on race day.