Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. Holly Springs trash runs a day late Thursday and Friday, town offices close two days and the half marathon runs Nov. 21.
Last checked Oct. 27, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Closings and trash changes come from the Town of Holly Springs holiday schedule, school dates from the WCPSS 2026-27 traditional calendar and race details from the organizer’s page. Holly Springs 311: dial 311 in town or 919-577-3111.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. The Town of Holly Springs takes both Thursday and Friday off, trash runs a day late at the end of the week, and the town’s big road race lands the Saturday before.
What this means for you
- Trash: Thursday and Friday garbage and recycling move back a day; Friday customers are served Saturday, Nov. 28.
- Yard waste: Thursday and Friday carts go out early, for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 25.
- School: WCPSS traditional-calendar students are off Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 25-27.
- Race day: expect runners and police-managed roads from 7 to about 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.
Trash and recycling
From the town’s holiday schedule for Thanksgiving, observed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27:
| Service | What changes |
|---|---|
| Garbage and recycling | Thursday and Friday routes run one day late; Friday customers are served Saturday, Nov. 28 |
| Yard waste carts | Thursday and Friday customers are collected Wednesday, Nov. 25 |
| Yard Waste Convenience Center | Closed Thursday and Friday; open Saturday and Sunday |
Thanksgiving week is also Zone A’s leaf collection week, starting Monday, Nov. 23, and Zone B’s starts Nov. 30. Zones and rules are on our trash and recycling page. Missed pickup: call 311.
What is open and closed
| Place | Thursday, Nov. 26 | Friday, Nov. 27 |
|---|---|---|
| Town offices | Closed | Closed |
| Bass Lake Park office | Closed | Closed |
| Holly Springs Cultural Center | Closed | Closed |
| W.E. Hunt Recreation Center | Closed | Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Sugg Farm | Closed | Not on the closed list |
| Holly Springs Hopper | No service | Normal schedule |
The schedule is the town’s own, from its holiday page. Police and fire answer 911 as usual; the police non-emergency line is 919-557-9111.
School days off
On the Wake County Public School System’s 2026-27 traditional calendar, Wednesday, Nov. 25, is a vacation day and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, are holidays. Year-round and modified-calendar schools follow their own calendars on the WCPSS calendars page. More on the district in our schools guide.
Holly Springs Half Marathon: Saturday, Nov. 21
The 10th annual Holly Springs Half Marathon, 10K and 5K starts and finishes at the North Main Athletic Complex, 1151 N. Main St., the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Assisted athletes start at 7:15 a.m. and half marathon runners and ruckers at 7:20 a.m., according to the race page. Packets are picked up at Ting Stadium on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 19-20.
The race’s road closures page says:
- Main Street traffic between Center Street and Rogers Street is detoured from about 7:30 to 8:15 a.m.
- Holly Springs Road stays open, but police hold traffic for runners between School Days Lane and Raleigh Street from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. It is expected to be fully open again about 9 a.m.
- Drivers from Lee Street can turn only left onto Grigsby Avenue from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m.
The nonprofit race funds greenway improvements in exchange for hosting its events, the town said in its July 2026 newsletter; that has paid for fitness stations on the Carl Dean Greenway and new drinking fountains.
Turkey trots and community meals
No Holly Springs organizer had posted a Thanksgiving Day run or a community dinner for 2026 on its own page when we checked. We add them here once the organizer announces the date, time and place. Tell us about yours.
Food drive. The Holly Springs Police Cadets are collecting food for the Holly Springs Food Cupboard through Wednesday, Nov. 18. Drop-off points are the Law Enforcement Center, 750 Holly Springs Road, and Town Hall, 128 S. Main St., according to the town’s Oct. 26 news release. The other holiday drives are in our story on all five.
Cooking safely
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, Fire Chief LeRoy Smith said in the town’s November 2025 newsletter. His advice:
- Never leave cooking unattended; turn off the stove if you step away.
- Fry a turkey outdoors, away from the house, the garage and anything overhanging. Never use a fryer on a wooden deck or in a garage.
After Thanksgiving
- Santa’s Mailbox opens outside Town Hall the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 23.
- Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28: see Black Friday and holiday shopping.
- Light the Springs, the tree lighting, is Saturday, Dec. 5: see Christmas parade and tree lighting and holiday lights and Christmas events.
Frequently asked questions
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Holly Springs?
No. Thursday and Friday garbage and recycling run one day late, with Friday customers served Saturday, Nov. 28. Thursday and Friday yard waste carts are collected early, on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Are Holly Springs town offices closed for Thanksgiving?
Yes. The Town of Holly Springs observes Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, 2026. The Hunt Recreation Center reopens 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.
When is Thanksgiving break for Wake County schools in 2026?
On the WCPSS traditional calendar, Wednesday, Nov. 25, is a vacation day and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, are holidays.
When is the Holly Springs Half Marathon in 2026?
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, from the North Main Athletic Complex. Assisted athletes start at 7:15 a.m. and the half marathon at 7:20 a.m., with roads around the course managed until about 9 a.m.
Does the Holly Springs Hopper run on Thanksgiving?
No. The town says the Hopper is unavailable Thursday, Nov. 26, and resumes its normal schedule Friday, Nov. 27.
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