Thanksgiving 2026 in Greensboro: Gobbler 5K Nov. 26, Feast of Caring Nov. 19, city offices and libraries closed Nov. 26-27, Thursday trash moves to Wednesday.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated every year at the same address. Holiday closures are from the City of Greensboro’s 2026 holiday calendar and trash changes from the city’s collection schedule. City contact center: 336-373-2489.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. City offices and every Greensboro Public Library location close Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26 and 27. There is no city trash pickup on Thursday, so Thursday’s route runs a day early, on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The holiday starts downtown with the Greensboro Gobbler, the city’s longest-running turkey trot.

What this means for you

  • Thursday trash, recycling and yard waste: put carts out for Wednesday, Nov. 25.
  • Friday collection does not change.
  • City offices and libraries: closed Nov. 26 and 27.
  • Turkey trot: 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day at Center City Park.

Trash and recycling on Thanksgiving week

The city’s Solid Waste and Recycling schedule lists:

Your normal day Thanksgiving week
Monday to Wednesday No change
Thursday, Nov. 26 Moves to Wednesday, Nov. 25
Friday, Nov. 27 No change

The change covers trash, recycling, yard waste and bulk collection. The city notes that crews may collect on a holiday week even when City Hall is closed. Check your own address in the GSO Collects app or address search. More on carts and bulk items is on our trash and recycling guide.

What is open and closed

  • City of Greensboro offices: closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, under the 2026 holiday calendar. The city notes that public safety staff and some other employees on special schedules may observe different dates. Police, fire and 911 keep running.
  • Greensboro Public Library: all locations closed Nov. 26 through Nov. 27, according to the library’s holiday schedule.
  • GTA buses: Greensboro Transit Agency posts holiday service before the week of the holiday on its routes page.
  • Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11: city offices and libraries are closed, but trash collection runs on the normal schedule.

Stores set their own hours. Our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide covers the shopping weekend.

Greensboro Gobbler 5K, Thursday, Nov. 26

The 26th Greensboro Gobbler 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk starts and finishes at Center City Park, 200 N. Elm St. Its organizers call it the largest and longest-running turkey trot in Greensboro, and it raises money for Greensboro Urban Ministry.

  • 6:30 a.m.: race-morning packet pickup and late in-person registration near the start line.
  • 8 a.m.: 1-mile walk and run.
  • 8:30 a.m.: 5K. Awards follow the race.
  • Early packet pickup: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 23-25, at The Natural Dog Pet Food Market, 2431 Battleground Ave.
  • Online registration closes at midnight Nov. 23; after that you can still sign up in person.

Feast of Caring, Thursday, Nov. 19

Greensboro Urban Ministry’s Feast of Caring is held every year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church on Friendly Avenue. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 7 p.m., and to-go orders are available. Guests make a set minimum donation to attend; the meal raises money for the ministry’s food, shelter and support programs. Tickets are sold at the door, and the ministry says online sales are coming.

Community meals and giving

Greensboro Urban Ministry provides food, shelter and support services to neighbors in need; its website lists ways to donate food or volunteer before the holiday. We add free community Thanksgiving dinners here when the church or nonprofit hosting them publishes the date, time and place.

Plan the rest of the week

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Greensboro on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The 26th Greensboro Gobbler 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk starts at Center City Park downtown on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026: the mile at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Greensboro?

No. There is no city collection on Thursday, Nov. 26. Thursday collection moves to Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Friday collection stays the same.

Are Greensboro city offices closed the day after Thanksgiving?

Yes. The city’s 2026 holiday calendar closes offices Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26 and 27. All Greensboro Public Library locations are closed both days too.

When is the Feast of Caring in Greensboro?

Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, at First Baptist Church on Friendly Avenue. Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner 5 to 7 p.m.; it raises money for Greensboro Urban Ministry.