Thanksgiving in Johns Creek 2026: turkey trot, closings, trash

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Race details, closings and calendars come from each organizer’s own page, linked below.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Here is what is happening in Johns Creek and what is closed.

Who to call

• City Hall: 678-512-3200, 11360 Lakefield Drive (closed Nov. 26-27)
• Trash pickup: your own hauler; the city lists registered haulers on its Garbage and Recycling page
• Emergencies: 911

Turkey trot

Five Star Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, Thursday, Nov. 26, 8 a.m. The race is at 3890 Johns Creek Parkway. The course is a 3.1-mile loop: one lap for the 5K, two for the 10K, three for the 15K, and four laps plus a short extra section for the half marathon. All races start at 8 a.m., and race-day check-in opens at 6:30 a.m.; the organizer asks runners to arrive closer to 6:30 than 8.

Entry is $21, in person or virtual. Runners who crossed a Five Star finish line earlier in the year qualify for one free in-person entry; the race page sets out the dates that count. Shirts, hoodies and finisher medals are sold separately. This year’s charity partner is the Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer. Details and registration: the race’s RunSignup page.

Earlier in the month, the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce holds its Mobility for All 5K at Cauley Creek Park, 7255 Bell Road, on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 7:30 a.m. The city lists it as free and open to walkers, strollers and leashed dogs (city listing).

The day after

Medley, the new district at Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road, holds Merry Medley from 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, with a holiday concert, performances, the opening of its ice rink and a fireworks finale (Merry Medley page). Rink hours for the season are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

What is open and closed

Stores and restaurants set their own hours. Check each business’s own website before you go; we do not list hours a business has not published.

Trash pickup

Johns Creek has no city-run trash service. Households pick a private hauler, and the city keeps a list of registered haulers, with phone numbers, on its Garbage and Recycling page. The haulers it lists include Republic Services (678-963-2800), WM (404-794-6707), Legacy Disposal Services (770-764-2992) and Red Oak Sanitation (678-455-7819). Holiday schedules are set by each hauler, so check with yours if your pickup day falls on Thursday or Friday.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Johns Creek? Yes. The Five Star Thanksgiving Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at 3890 Johns Creek Parkway, with 5K, 10K, 15K and half marathon distances on a 5K loop.

Is Johns Creek City Hall open the day after Thanksgiving? No. The city lists City Hall as closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, 2026.

Are Fulton County libraries open on Thanksgiving? No. The Fulton County Library System closes Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26 and 27, 2026, including the Northeast/Spruill Oaks and Ocee branches.

When is Thanksgiving break for Fulton County Schools in 2026? Schools are closed Nov. 23-27, 2026, according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar.

Does trash pickup change for Thanksgiving in Johns Creek? The city has no single trash service. Residents contract with private haulers registered with the city, so call your own hauler about its holiday schedule.

What this means for you

• Students are off the whole week of Nov. 23.
• City Hall and the libraries are closed Thursday and Friday.
• Ask your trash hauler, not the city, about holiday pickup.

Related: Black Friday and holiday shopping, holiday lights and Christmas events and free things to do.