Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26: no city garbage or recycling pickup that day, the Palm Beach Turkey Trot is sold out, and City Hall closes for the holiday.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Facts come from the City of West Palm Beach holiday trash schedule and news releases, and the Town of Palm Beach United Way. This page is updated each year. The city usually posts its Thanksgiving closures the week before the holiday; we will add them when it does.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. There is no city garbage or recycling pickup that day, and bulk and yard waste run a day late for the rest of the week. The area’s big Thanksgiving run, the Palm Beach Turkey Trot, is already sold out. The day after, Northwood Village holds its Black Friday night market.
Who to call
- Trash and recycling: City Solid Waste Customer Service, 561-822-2075
- City events: Community Events, 561-822-1515
- Share-A-Supper: Pleasant City Community Center, 561-804-4930
- Turkey Trot: Town of Palm Beach United Way, 561-655-1919
Trash pickup Thanksgiving week
From the city’s holiday pickup schedule:
| Day | Garbage | Recycling | Bulk and yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26 | No service | No service | One day delay |
| Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27 | On schedule | On schedule | One day delay |
“No service” means pickup resumes on your next scheduled day. “One day delay” means service runs a day late for the rest of the week. Your regular days are on our trash and recycling guide.
What is open and closed
The city has not posted its 2026 Thanksgiving notice. In 2025, its closure notice said City Hall, the Mandel Public Library, the Grassy Waters Preserve Nature Center and all non-essential services closed on both Thanksgiving and the Friday after. Grassy Waters reopened at 8 a.m. Saturday and City Hall at 8 a.m. the following Monday. We will update this section when the 2026 notice is out.
Palm Beach County public schools are off for Thanksgiving break, Nov. 23 to 27, on the district’s 2026-27 calendar.
Stores, restaurants and malls set their own holiday hours. For Black Friday store hours, Small Business Saturday and holiday markets, see our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide.
Turkey trot
The Palm Beach Turkey Trot, run by the Town of Palm Beach United Way, is Thanksgiving morning at Bradley Park in the Town of Palm Beach, across the Intracoastal from downtown. The race page lists:
- 7 a.m.: Kids Drumstick Dash
- 7:30 a.m.: 5K
The page says the 2026 5K is sold out and the waitlist is full. Registration for the 2027 race opens July 1, 2027. Registered runners pick up race packets at Pumphouse Pouratorium, 1016 Clare Ave., Suite 5A, in West Palm Beach, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25. The course map is on the race page.
Thanksgiving meals
The city’s Pleasant City Share-A-Supper is a free Thanksgiving dinner served by city leaders and employees. In 2025, the 34th year, it ran on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 22nd St., with turkey, string beans, rice, mashed potatoes, a roll and a drink for residents and families, while supplies lasted, the city said. The 2026 date has not been announced; call the Pleasant City Community Center at 561-804-4930.
Is your church or nonprofit serving a free Thanksgiving meal in West Palm Beach? Send the details through our contact page and we will list it.
The day after: Nights in Northwood Village
The city’s quarterly Nights in Northwood Village falls on Black Friday, Friday, Nov. 27, 6 to 9 p.m. on Northwood Road, with 50-plus vendors selling handmade goods, art and vintage finds and the band Jam-X, according to the city’s event page.
What this means for you
- Hold your garbage and recycling on Thanksgiving Day; put it out on your next regular day.
- If you did not get a Turkey Trot bib, the race is full; set a reminder for July 1, 2027.
- Palm Beach Zoo’s light show opens Nov. 20: see holiday lights and Christmas events.
Related: Halloween events, things to do this month and trash and recycling.
Frequently asked questions
Is there trash pickup on Thanksgiving in West Palm Beach?
No. The city’s holiday schedule shows no residential garbage or recycling pickup on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26; it resumes on your next scheduled day. Bulk and yard waste run one day late that week.
Is West Palm Beach City Hall open the day after Thanksgiving?
The city has not posted its 2026 notice yet. In 2025 City Hall, the Mandel Public Library and the Grassy Waters Nature Center closed on both Thanksgiving and the Friday after.
Is there a turkey trot in West Palm Beach?
The nearest is the Palm Beach Turkey Trot at Bradley Park on the island, Thursday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 a.m. The 2026 race and its waitlist are full, the Town of Palm Beach United Way says.
Where can I get a free Thanksgiving meal in West Palm Beach?
The city’s Pleasant City Share-A-Supper served free Thanksgiving dinners at 500 22nd St. on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 2025. The 2026 date has not been announced; call the Pleasant City Community Center at 561-804-4930.
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