2026 season · Updated Friday, November 6
Thanksgiving in Charlotte 2026
Turkey trots on Thanksgiving morning, the parade, and plans for the long weekend in Charlotte and the towns around it, checked against each organizer's own site.
Thanksgiving morning runs
- Coming up
Bright Lights 5K & Fun Run
Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont
A Thanksgiving Eve night run through Daniel Stowe Conservancy's holiday lights in Belmont, Wed Nov 25 at 6pm, with a Holidays at the Garden sneak-peek party.
- Dates
- Wed, Nov 25
- Time
- 5K 6:00pm, fun run 6:45pm, sneak-peek party 7-9pm
- Price
- Fun run $39.05, 5K $65.55 through Nov 22 (fees included); higher Nov 23-25
- Coming up
2026 Davidson Turkey Trot
Davidson Village Green, Davidson
A scenic Thanksgiving morning 5K through downtown Davidson, starting from the Village Green at 8am on Thu Nov 26.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- From 8 AM
- Price
- Price not listed
- Coming up
2026 University City Turkey Trot
University City Turkey Trot start, Charlotte
A 5K run/walk and kids fun run on Prosperity Church Rd on Thanksgiving morning, Thu Nov 26 at 8am, benefiting Sickle Cell Partners of the Carolinas.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- From 8 AM
- Price
- Price not listed
- Coming up
20th Annual IDNutrition Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot 10K & 5K
Life Fellowship Church, Cornelius
Half marathon, 10K and 5K on Thanksgiving morning from Life Fellowship Church in Cornelius, Thu Nov 26, starting at 7:30am.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- Half 7:30am, 10K 7:35am, 5K 7:40am
- Price
- 5K $45, 10K $55, half marathon $75 (rises after Nov 22)
- Coming up
Angels & Sparrows Thanksgiving Family 5K
Fleet Feet Sports, Birkdale Village, Huntersville
An untimed, family-and-dog-friendly Thanksgiving 5K from Fleet Feet in Birkdale Village, Thu Nov 26; music at 7am, trot at 8am.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- Music from 7am; 5K starts 8am
- Price
- $25; kids under 6 free
- Coming up
Burn North Charlotte 7th Annual Turkey Trot
Davis Lake, Charlotte
A neighborhood-friendly Thanksgiving 5K in Davis Lake on Thu Nov 26 at 9:30am, raising money for the Davis Lake Swim Team and Levine Children's Hospital.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- 9:30 AM – 11 AM
- Price
- $35
- Coming up
CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot
SouthPark Mall (start on Carnegie Blvd), Charlotte
Charlotte's biggest Thanksgiving morning race, with an 8K, 5K, 1-mile fun run and tot trot starting at SouthPark Mall on Thu Nov 26.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- 1 Mile 8:00am, 8K 8:10am, Tot Trot heats 8:30-9:30am, 5K 9:10am
- Price
- 1 Mile from $35; 5K/8K $55 through Nov 21, $59 Nov 22-25 (plus fees)
- Coming up
Laurel Park Turkey Day 5K/Fun Run
Laurel Park (tennis courts), Concord
Concord's 18th annual Thanksgiving 5K, 1-mile fun run and toddler trot in the Laurel Park neighborhood, Thu Nov 26 from 8:15am.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- Toddler trot 8:15am, 1-mile fun run 8:30am, 5K 9:00am
- Price
- Kids $20, adults $30 through Nov 11; $5 more after
- Coming up
Mooresville/Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K
The Christian Mission, Mooresville
Thanksgiving morning 5K and kids fun run at The Christian Mission on N Main St in Mooresville, Thu Nov 26, raising money for the Mission's services.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- Kids fun run 8:30am, 5K 9:00am
- Price
- Kids fun run $15; 5K $45 through Nov 21
- Coming up
NorthStone Turkey Trot
NorthStone, Huntersville
A low-key Thanksgiving 5K and kids fun run in Huntersville's NorthStone community on Thu Nov 26, with free untimed options and all proceeds to charity.
- Dates
- Thu, Nov 26
- Time
- Kids fun run 8:00am, 5K 8:30am; packet pickup from 7am
- Price
- Free untimed 5K and kids run; timed 5K with shirt $20
Parade and Thanksgiving weekend events
- Coming up
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Tryon Street, Uptown, Charlotte
Uptown's 80th annual parade moves to the night before Thanksgiving this year, with balloons, floats and bands along Tryon Street.
- Dates
- Wed, Nov 25
- Time
- From 5:30 PM
- Price
- Free; VIP bleachers $40
- Coming up
5th Annual Christmas Extravaganza
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Concord
About 200 indoor holiday vendors selling gifts, handmade goods and décor at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, Fri-Sun Nov 27-29. $10 covers all three days.
- Dates
- Nov 27–29
- Time
- Fri & Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm
- Price
- $10, good all three days
- Coming up
A Motown Christmas
Knight Theater, Levine Center for the Arts, Charlotte
A Motown Christmas brings Motown hits and holiday standards to the Knight Theater uptown on Friday, Nov 27 at 7:30 PM.
- Dates
- Fri, Nov 27
- Time
- From 7:30 PM
- Price
- From $70.77
- Coming up
Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert
Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte
The Grinch in concert plays Ovens Auditorium over Thanksgiving weekend: Friday Nov 27 at 7:30 PM and Saturday Nov 28 at 3 PM.
- Dates
- Nov 27–28
- Time
- Fri 7:30 PM; Sat 3 PM
- Price
- Price not listed
- Coming up
JOSH DANIEL & FRIENDS Present: THE LAST WALTZ EXPERIENCE
Visulite Theatre, Charlotte
Local musicians recreate The Band's farewell concert The Last Waltz over Thanksgiving weekend at the Visulite Theatre, Fri Nov 27 and Sat Nov 28 at 8 PM.
- Dates
- Nov 27–28
- Time
- From 8 PM
- Price
- $18 advance, $22 day of show (per night)
- Coming up
Museum Store Market at the Gantt Center
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Charlotte
Free holiday market of Black-owned vendors throughout the Gantt Center, Nov 27–29, noon–4 PM, ending on Museum Store Sunday.
- Dates
- Nov 27–29
- Time
- 12 PM – 4 PM
- Price
- Free
- Coming up
OMB Christmas Market (Ballantyne)
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne, Charlotte
OMB's free Christmas Market comes to its Ballantyne brewery at The Bowl, opening Black Friday and running Fri-Sun through Dec 20, with local makers, Glühwein and Santa on Saturdays.
- Dates
- Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, Dec 11–13, Dec 18–20
- Time
- Fri & Sat noon-9pm (opens 11am Fri Nov 27), Sun noon-7pm; Santa Saturdays 2-5pm
- Price
- Free to attend
- Coming up
OMB Christmas Market (LoSo)
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (LoSo), Charlotte
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's free German-style Christmas Market opens Black Friday at its LoSo Brauhaus and runs Fri-Sun through Dec 20, with local vendors, Glühwein and Santa on Saturdays.
- Dates
- Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, Dec 11–13, Dec 18–20
- Time
- Fri & Sat noon-9pm (opens 11am Fri Nov 27), Sun noon-7pm; Santa Saturdays 2-5pm
- Price
- Free to attend
- Coming up
Thanksgiving with the Raptors
Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville
Watch keepers prepare a holiday meal for the birds of prey at Carolina Raptor Center on Black Friday, Nov 27, 11–11:30 AM.
- Dates
- Fri, Nov 27
- Time
- 11 AM – 11:30 AM
- Price
- Included with admission
- Coming up
Cabarrus Brewing Holiday Market
Cabarrus Brewing Company (Gibson Mill), Concord
Dozens of Christmas vendor booths at Cabarrus Brewing Company in Concord's Gibson Mill on Small Business Saturday, Nov 28, 10am-5pm. Free.
- Dates
- Sat, Nov 28
- Time
- 10 AM – 5 PM
- Price
- Free
- Coming up
Owl & Ember Collective Holiday Artisan & Wellness Market
Griffith Hall at Lenny Boy Brewing Co., Charlotte
A free indoor Small Business Saturday market of handmade goods and wellness products in Griffith Hall at Lenny Boy Brewing in South End, Sat Nov 28, 1-6pm.
- Dates
- Sat, Nov 28
- Time
- 1 PM – 6 PM
- Price
- Free admission
- Coming up
Small Business Saturday Holiday Trail
Downtown Concord, Concord
Downtown Concord's free Small Business Saturday on Nov 28, 11am-4pm, with 60+ vendors along Union Street and trolleys to Gibson Mill Market and Southern Strain Brewery.
- Dates
- Sat, Nov 28
- Time
- 11 AM – 4 PM
- Price
- Free
- Coming up
Christmas Together with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and CeCe Winans
Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte
Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans share the stage for a Christmas concert at Bojangles Coliseum on Sunday, Nov 29 at 7 PM.
- Dates
- Sun, Nov 29
- Time
- From 7 PM
- Price
- Price not listed
- Coming up
Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays
Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte
Dancer Derek Hough brings his holiday dance show to Ovens Auditorium on Sunday, Nov 29 at 8 PM.
- Dates
- Sun, Nov 29
- Time
- From 8 PM
- Price
- Price not listed
Good to know
- Turkey trots often sell out or close registration days before Thanksgiving, and some have no race-day sign-up.
- Many light shows and holiday markets open the weekend after Thanksgiving, so it's a good weekend to start the season.
- Saturday is Small Business Saturday: a good day for local shops and makers markets.
FAQ
Where are the turkey trots around Charlotte?
Bright Lights 5K & Fun Run in Belmont (Wed, Nov 25); 2026 Davidson Turkey Trot in Davidson (Thu, Nov 26); 2026 University City Turkey Trot in Charlotte (Thu, Nov 26); 20th Annual IDNutrition Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot 10K & 5K in Cornelius (Thu, Nov 26); Angels & Sparrows Thanksgiving Family 5K in Huntersville (Thu, Nov 26); Burn North Charlotte 7th Annual Turkey Trot in Charlotte (Thu, Nov 26); CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot in Charlotte (Thu, Nov 26); Laurel Park Turkey Day 5K/Fun Run in Concord (Thu, Nov 26); Mooresville/Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K in Mooresville (Thu, Nov 26); NorthStone Turkey Trot in Huntersville (Thu, Nov 26). Most fill up, so register ahead.
When is the Charlotte Thanksgiving parade?
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade: Wed, Nov 25, starting at 5:30 PM. Uptown's 80th annual parade moves to the night before Thanksgiving this year, with balloons, floats and bands along Tryon Street.
What is there to do in Charlotte the weekend after Thanksgiving?
5th Annual Christmas Extravaganza in Concord (Nov 27–29); A Motown Christmas in Charlotte (Fri, Nov 27); Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert in Charlotte (Nov 27–28); JOSH DANIEL & FRIENDS Present: THE LAST WALTZ EXPERIENCE in Charlotte (Nov 27–28); Museum Store Market at the Gantt Center in Charlotte (Nov 27–29); OMB Christmas Market (Ballantyne) in Charlotte (Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, Dec 11–13, Dec 18–20).
Is Small Business Saturday a good day to shop local in Charlotte?
Yes. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday. Our guide lists local shops by neighborhood and the makers markets on that weekend.
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