Thanksgiving 2026 in Boca Raton: the Levis JCC Turkey Trot Nov. 26, food drives, school and library closures and how the holiday moves trash pickup.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the organizers linked below, the City of Boca Raton’s Fall 2026 Recreator (PDF) and holiday sanitation schedule.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. The day starts with the Levis JCC Turkey Trot at South County Regional Park. Public schools are out all week, Nov. 23-27, and county library branches close Thursday and Friday. There is no city trash pickup Wednesday through Friday of Thanksgiving week.

Updated Oct. 19: the city has posted its 2026-27 holiday trash schedule: no collection Nov. 25-27.

Who to call

The Levis JCC Turkey Trot: Thursday, Nov. 26

The 18th Annual Levis JCC Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk starts at 7:30 a.m. at South County Regional Park, 12551 Glades Road, west of the city. A Youth 1 Mile Fun Run follows at 8:30 a.m. It runs rain or shine, with no rain date, and strollers are allowed.

  • Entry: ages 11 and over $40 until Nov. 15, $45 Nov. 16-25 and $50 on race day. Ages 10 and under $30, $35 and $40. The youth run is $20 until Nov. 15, then $30.
  • Extras: the first 2,000 to register get a dri-fit shirt and the first 2,000 5K finishers get a medal; every child in the fun run gets a medal.
  • Packet pickup: at the Levis JCC, 21050 95th Ave. S., Nov. 23-24 (a driver’s license is needed to enter the campus); at Runner’s Edge, 3195 N. Federal Highway, Nov. 21-24; and at the park from 6 to 7 a.m. race morning. A third store pickup is in Coconut Creek.
  • Parking: every park entrance except the Glades Road entrance closes at 7 a.m. for the race.

Proceeds support the JCC’s programs for children and families. Register on the Levis JCC Turkey Trot page.

Feeding neighbors

Boca Helping Hands’ Thanksgiving Box Brigade gives client families a turkey and a box with everything needed for a holiday meal. Volunteers can schedule pickup of five or more empty boxes, fill them from the shopping list and drop them at Boca Helping Hands, 1500 NW 1st Court (south entrance), by Monday, Nov. 16. You can also donate the cost of a box (Box Brigade page).

Families who already use Boca Helping Hands sign up during October at their regular pantry pickup site; registration ends Oct. 31, one per household, and pickup details are given at sign-up (client registration).

We found no free public sit-down Thanksgiving dinner in Boca Raton with 2026 details posted by its organizer. We will add one here if it is announced.

What is open and closed

  • Public schools: closed Nov. 23-27 for the Thanksgiving holiday, with district offices closed, according to the School District of Palm Beach County. See our schools guide.
  • County libraries: Palm Beach County Library System branches close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, and are closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27. The West Boca Branch is at 18685 State Road 7, 561-470-1600 (branch page).
  • City offices: City of Boca Raton offices are closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, according to the city’s calendar listings for Thanksgiving Day and the day after.
  • Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, per the city calendar.
  • Shopping: Black Friday and holiday store hours are on our holiday shopping page.

Trash pickup Thanksgiving week

The city’s 2026-27 holiday sanitation schedule lists:

Day Collection
Monday, Nov. 23 No change
Tuesday, Nov. 24 No change
Wednesday, Nov. 25 No collection
Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 26 No collection
Friday, Nov. 27 No collection

The schedule names no makeup day, so garbage set for Thursday or Friday waits until your next regular day. See our trash and recycling guide for your regular day.

A day off school

  • Thanksgiving Special Family Storytime, 10 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at the Downtown and Spanish River libraries. Free, for ages 0 to 5, with a free book per family while supplies last. Registration opens Oct. 19.
  • Great Escape Days, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the Children’s Science Explorium, for ages 6 to 12.
  • Surf School, Nov. 23-25, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Red Reef Park, for ages 5 to 14.
  • “House at Pooh Corner,” 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park ($9 for 12 and under, $12 for 13 and over).

All four are in the city’s Fall Recreator. The weekend before, the city lights its tree at Mizner Park on Saturday, Nov. 21; see our parade and tree lighting page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Boca Raton? Yes: the Levis JCC Turkey Trot 5K, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at South County Regional Park.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving? No. There is no collection Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 25-27.

When is Thanksgiving break? Nov. 23-27, 2026, for Palm Beach County public schools.

Are libraries open? County branches close early Nov. 25 and are closed Nov. 26-27.

How can I help? Fill a Boca Helping Hands Thanksgiving box by Nov. 16 or donate online.

What this means for you

  • Register for the Turkey Trot before Nov. 15 to pay the lowest fee.
  • No trash pickup Nov. 25-27; Monday and Tuesday pickups go ahead as usual.
  • Kids are home all week; city day programs need registration.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, Black Friday and holiday shopping, trash and recycling and things to do this month.