Gobbler's Run 5K starts at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26. Town Hall closes Nov. 26-27, and Thursday and Friday trash routes slide a day.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Race details come from the Gobbler’s Run site, closures and trash rules from the town’s holiday schedule and school dates from the Wake County Public School System.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. Wake Forest starts the day with the Gobbler’s Run 5K at 8 a.m., Town Hall closes for two days, and the Thursday and Friday trash routes each move back a day. Wake County students on the traditional calendar are off Nov. 25-27. This page will grow as churches, restaurants and the town post their holiday plans.

What this means for you

  • Run: Gobbler’s Run 5K, 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at the Boys & Girls Club, 325 S. Wingate St.
  • Trash: Thursday’s route moves to Friday, Nov. 27; Friday’s moves to Saturday, Nov. 28.
  • Town Hall: closed Nov. 26-27. Call 919-435-9400 after it reopens.
  • Trash questions: Public Works, 919-435-9570

Gobbler’s Run 5K

Wake Forest’s own Thanksgiving Day 5K, established in 2006, has raised more than $1 million for the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, according to the race’s home page. The organizers expect about 2,500 runners, its registration page says.

  • Start: 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, 325 S. Wingate St.
  • Register online through ITS YOUR RACE, or in person at packet pickup.
  • Packet pickup and in-person registration: 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the club. Race-day registration runs 6:45 to 8 a.m.
  • Prices go up as the race nears:
Age October Nov. 1-22 Nov. 23-25 Race day
6 to 15 $20 $25 $30 $35
16 and up $25 $30 $40 $50

Children 5 and under run free but do not get a shirt. The race site says paying runners registered by Nov. 1 are guaranteed a commemorative T-shirt; another line on the same page gives Nov. 15 as the last day to be guaranteed one, so register by Nov. 1 to be safe. Every dollar goes to the club, which the race says serves more than 1,100 local children.

Trash, recycling and town services

Republic Services, the town’s contractor, does not collect trash and recycling on Thanksgiving Day. When a holiday falls on a weekday, that day’s route runs the next day and the rest of the week shifts into Saturday, according to the town’s holiday schedule:

Normal day Thanksgiving week
Monday, Nov. 23 No change
Tuesday, Nov. 24 No change
Wednesday, Nov. 25 No change
Thursday, Nov. 26 Friday, Nov. 27
Friday, Nov. 27 Saturday, Nov. 28

The town sends its detailed Thanksgiving notice, including yard waste, leaf and bulk pickup changes, about a week ahead to subscribers of its Holiday Operations E-Notifier. Loose leaf season is underway, so expect crews on a changed schedule that week. The full routine is on our trash and recycling guide.

What is open and closed

  • Town Hall and town offices: closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27. Police service is not affected.
  • Go Wake Forest buses: no service on Thanksgiving.
  • Wake Forest-Raleigh Express: no service Thanksgiving Day or the Friday after. GoTriangle holiday schedules are at gotriangle.org or 919-485-7433.
  • Schools: Wake County’s traditional-calendar schools are closed Nov. 25-27. More on our schools guide.

We will add library, recreation center and restaurant holiday hours here as they are posted. Run a Wake Forest restaurant or church serving a Thanksgiving meal? Tell us and send the link to your announcement.

The weekend before: Holiday Kick-Off

The Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, downtown, and opens the town’s holiday donation drive, according to the town’s event page. Black Friday and Small Business Saturday plans are on our holiday shopping page, and the Lighting of Wake Forest on Dec. 4 is on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

Related: Halloween events, holiday lights and Christmas events, walking and biking trails and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Wake Forest on Thanksgiving 2026?

Yes. The 21st Gobbler’s Run 5K starts at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, 325 S. Wingate St. All proceeds go to the club.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Wake Forest?

No. Republic Services does not collect on Thanksgiving Day. When a holiday falls on a weekday, that day’s route runs the next day, so Thursday’s route moves to Friday, Nov. 27, and Friday’s to Saturday, Nov. 28.

Is Wake Forest Town Hall open the day after Thanksgiving?

No. Town Hall and the town’s administrative offices are closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, on the town’s 2026 holiday schedule. Police service is not affected.

When is Thanksgiving break for Wake County schools in 2026?

On the Wake County Public School System’s 2026-27 traditional calendar, Thanksgiving break is Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 25-27. Year-round tracks follow their own calendars.

Does Go Wake Forest run on Thanksgiving?

No. Go Wake Forest does not operate on Thanksgiving, and the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express does not run on Thanksgiving Day or the Friday after.