Short answer
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. The big ones: Atlanta Track Club’s Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon and 5K (7:45 a.m., Center Parc Stadium; half $135 through Nov. 20), the Gobble Jog on the Marietta Square (from 7:30 a.m.), Helen’s free village lighting on Friday, Nov. 27, and Georgia vs. Georgia Tech in Athens on Saturday.
Every date, time and price below comes from the organizer’s own page (checked ); the sources are listed at the end. Anything an organizer hasn’t published yet says so, and we re-check this guide every week until Thanksgiving. For the season as a whole, see fall in Georgia and Christmas in Georgia.
Thanksgiving weekend in Georgia at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is Thanksgiving 2026? | Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
| Biggest Thanksgiving morning race | Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta; half starts 7:45 a.m. |
| Family race outside Atlanta | MUST Gobble Jog, Marietta Square: 10K 7:30 a.m., 1K 8:30 a.m., 5K 8:45 a.m., Tot Trot 10:30 a.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | Helen’s Annual Lighting of the Village, 5–7 p.m., Riverside Park, free |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | Georgia vs. Georgia Tech in Athens (sold out; kickoff TBA); Helen’s Christmas Market |
| Holiday lights open that weekend | Stone Mountain Christmas, Garden Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Callaway’s Fantasy in Lights, Rock City, Lake Lanier’s Magical Nights of Lights |
| Weather | Atlanta averages a 64°F high and 44°F low in November (NOAA normals) |
Which Thanksgiving Day races are in Georgia?
Atlanta Track Club’s Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash (Atlanta)
The club calls it the largest Thanksgiving Day half marathon in the country, and it sells out. It starts and finishes outside Center Parc Stadium (755 Hank Aaron Dr SE) and runs through Summerhill, Grant Park and nearby neighborhoods, per the Atlanta Track Club event page (checked ).
| Race | Start | Who can run | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half marathon (13.1 mi) | 7:45 a.m. | Ages 14 and up; 3 h 30 min limit | $135 through Nov. 20; $140 at number pickup |
| 5K | 8:15 a.m. | Ages 8 and up; dogs and strollers allowed in their own wave | $50 through Nov. 20; $55 at number pickup |
| Mile | 8:25 a.m. | Ages 6 and up | Not listed on the event page |
| Dash | 9 a.m. (3 and under), 9:15 a.m. (ages 4–6) | Ages 6 and under | Not listed on the event page |
- Number pickup: will call opens at 6:30 a.m. on race day; the finish line closes at 11:30 a.m.
- Parking: free in Center Parc Stadium’s Orange, Blue, Green and Grey lots. The club asks runners to carpool and arrive an hour early.
- Strollers and dogs: only in the 5K, in a dedicated wave. No strollers, bikes or skates on the half-marathon course.
- Charity wave: $250, of which $200 goes to the club’s Kilometer Kids program.
- Athletes with disabilities: the club arranges accommodations case by case; email awd@atlantatrackclub.org.
MUST Gobble Jog (Marietta Square)
MUST Ministries’ 24th Gobble Jog fills the Marietta Square on Thanksgiving morning; MUST expects more than 10,000 runners, and the race raises money for food and housing help in the community (MUST’s event page, checked ). The 10K and 5K are certified AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifiers.
| Race | Start | Price (through Oct. 31, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 10K timed | 7:30 a.m. | $50 |
| 1K untimed | 8:30 a.m. | $45 |
| 5K timed | 8:45 a.m. | $50 |
| 5K untimed walk/run | 9:05 a.m. | $45 |
| Tot Trot (50 yards, ages 4 and under) | 10:30 a.m. | $30 |
| Phantom runner (no race, T-shirt) | — | $40 |
Prices rise after October 31, 2026, per the registration page; the new prices weren’t posted when we checked.
What’s on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving?
- Helen, Friday, Nov. 27: the Annual Lighting of the Village, 5–7 p.m. at Riverside Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive, local groups perform and children can meet Santa. Free. Helen’s Christmas Market follows on Nov. 28–29 and Dec. 5–6; details in our Christmas in Helen guide.
- Athens, Saturday, Nov. 28: Georgia hosts Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs’ schedule lists the game as sold out with kickoff TBA (checked ); expect Athens hotels and roads to be full. See things to do in Athens.
- Callaway Resort & Gardens, Saturday, Nov. 28: the first Breakfast with Santa of the season (9 and 11 a.m., also Dec. 5, 12 and 19), per Callaway.
- The next Saturday, Dec. 5: the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. See our SEC Championship guide.
Which holiday lights are open Thanksgiving weekend?
| Display | Where | 2026–27 season | What we checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Mountain Christmas | Stone Mountain Park | Weekends and holidays, Nov. 7, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027 | Parade 6 p.m., Santa’s Big Flight 6:30 p.m., drone and light show 8:20 p.m. |
| Garden Lights, Holiday Nights | Atlanta Botanical Garden, Midtown | Nightly, Nov. 14, 2026–Jan. 10, 2027 | Open until midnight, last entry 11 p.m.; card only |
| Fantasy in Lights | Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain | Nov. 13, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027 | 7-mile drive-through, at least 45 minutes; trolley and bike nights too |
| Enchanted Garden of Lights | Rock City, Lookout Mountain | Nightly, Nov. 13–Dec. 31, 2026 (closed Dec. 24) | Online only; adults $31–$49, children 3–12 $21–$39 by date |
| Magical Nights of Lights | Lanier Islands Resort, Buford | Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027 | Drive-through; priced per vehicle |
Sources: Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Callaway, Rock City, Lanier Islands (checked ). Whether Stone Mountain Christmas opens on Thanksgiving Day itself isn’t spelled out on the event page; check the park’s calendar before you go. All five, compared: Georgia Christmas lights.
Tips for families
- Little runners: Atlanta’s Dash (6 and under) and Marietta’s Tot Trot (4 and under) are the kid-sized options; the Mile is for ages 6 and up and the Atlanta 5K for 8 and up.
- Strollers: allowed only in Atlanta’s 5K stroller-and-dog wave. Rock City says its light trail is not fully stroller or wheelchair accessible; bring a carrier.
- Timing: Thanksgiving morning races finish by late morning, so they fit before a family meal. Helen’s lighting is early evening on Friday.
- Weather: NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals give Atlanta a November average high of 64.1°F and low of 44.2°F; Athens 64.9°F and 41.6°F. Race mornings can be near freezing, so dress kids in layers. Month by month: Georgia weather.
FAQ
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. The Friday after is November 27 and the Saturday is November 28.
What time does the Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon start?
7:45 a.m. on November 26, 2026, outside Center Parc Stadium. The 5K starts at 8:15 a.m., the Mile at 8:25 a.m. and the kids’ Dash at 9 a.m., per Atlanta Track Club.
How much is the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon in Atlanta?
$135 through November 20, 2026, then $140 at number pickup; the 5K is $50, then $55. Atlanta Track Club says the race sells out (checked ).
Is there a turkey trot for kids in Georgia?
Yes. Atlanta Track Club’s Dash is for children 6 and under (9 a.m.) and the Mile for ages 6 and up; the Gobble Jog in Marietta has a 50-yard Tot Trot for ages 4 and under at 10:30 a.m. ($30).
When is the Gobble Jog in Marietta?
Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2026, on the Marietta Square: 10K at 7:30 a.m., 1K at 8:30 a.m., timed 5K at 8:45 a.m., untimed 5K at 9:05 a.m. and Tot Trot at 10:30 a.m.
When does Helen light up for Christmas?
Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving: the Annual Lighting of the Village runs 5–7 p.m. at Riverside Park and is free.
When is Georgia vs. Georgia Tech in 2026?
Saturday, November 28, 2026, in Athens. The Georgia Bulldogs’ schedule lists it as sold out with the kickoff time still TBA (checked ).
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Atlanta Track Club — 2026 Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash (date, schedule, prices, parking, strollers and dogs)
- MUST Ministries — Gobble Jog (date, start times, location)
- RunSignup — 24th Annual MUST Gobble Jog registration (prices, price increase after Oct. 31)
- Alpine Helen/White County CVB — Annual Lighting of the Village (Nov. 27, 5–7 p.m.)
- Georgia Bulldogs — 2026 football schedule (Georgia Tech, Nov. 28, Athens)
- Stone Mountain Park — Stone Mountain Christmas
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
- Callaway Resort & Gardens — Fantasy in Lights (dates, Breakfast with Santa)
- Rock City — Enchanted Garden of Lights (dates, prices, accessibility)
- Lanier Islands Resort — Magical Nights of Lights (dates)
- It’s Georgia — Georgia Weather by Month (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
Checked on against each organizer’s own page. Dates and prices can change; we re-check this guide every week until Thanksgiving.
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
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Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Thanksgiving in Georgia 2026: Turkey Trots, Helen’s Lighting, Football and Holiday Lights”, itsgeorgia.com/events/thanksgiving-in-georgia/ (updated ). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.