The Mickler's Landing turkey trot 5K is full and its fun run nearly so; the Nocatee 5K and 10K are open. No trash pickup and county offices close Nov. 26.

Last checked Nov. 7, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: St. Johns County’s holiday schedule and garbage collection page, the St. Johns County School District calendar, the library calendar and each race’s registration page, linked below.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Ponte Vedra Beach starts the day with two turkey trots, one on the beach at Mickler’s Landing and one in Nocatee. St. Johns County, the local government here, makes no trash, recycling or yard waste pickup on Thanksgiving Day, and county offices close Thursday and Friday. County questions go to 904-209-0655.

Updated Nov. 7: the First Coast Turkey Trot 5K at Mickler’s Landing is full, and its 1-mile fun run had four spots left. The Nocatee race is still open at $60 and $65. The Nov. 6 food drive has passed.

Updated Oct. 31: the free kids’ entries for the Mickler’s Landing race are sold out; the Nocatee race now starts at Nocatee Station Field, and its prices are $60 for the 5K and $65 for the 10K.

Thanksgiving at a glance

  • Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving break for St. Johns County schools
  • Wednesday, Nov. 25: libraries close at 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 26: turkey trots in Nocatee (8 a.m.) and at Mickler’s Landing (8:30 a.m.); no trash pickup; county offices, libraries and transfer stations closed
  • Friday, Nov. 27: county offices and libraries still closed

Turkey trots

First Coast Turkey Trot: a 5K and a 1-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, starting and finishing at Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park, 1109 Ponte Vedra Blvd. The 5K is full, the race’s page said on Nov. 7, and the $30 fun run had four spots left. There is no same-day registration; online registration closes at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 26. The free entries for kids 10 and under are sold out. Packet pickup is at Mickler’s Landing from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25. Finishers get a medal, according to the race’s RunSignup page.

Psych Ed Connections Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot: the 11th annual 5K and 10K start at 8 a.m., after a kids’ fun run at 7:30 a.m. The race starts and finishes at Nocatee Station Field, 245 Nocatee Center Way, and race-day packet pickup is in the Nocatee Splash parking lot at the same address; early pickup is at the YMCA at Nocatee, 400 Colonnade Drive. Awards are at about 9:30 a.m. Proceeds go to Holly’s Hope, a St. Johns County nonprofit. Entry is $60 for the 5K, $65 for the 10K and $20 for the kids’ run, and all three rise after 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24. Registration stays open until the start, but late entrants are not guaranteed a T-shirt or medal, according to the race’s RunSignup page.

Giving back

SJC Cultural Events ran its Rock the Pantries Food Drive from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 (this has passed), in the main parking lot of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., and at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Staff collected nonperishable food for 15 pantries across the county, including the St. Johns Food Pantry and Betty Griffin House, the concert hall’s event page says.

No free community Thanksgiving dinner in Ponte Vedra Beach has been announced for 2026. Churches and nonprofits can send one through our contact page.

Dinner out

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa says it will serve a Thanksgiving buffet at Vernon’s, a holiday menu at 1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop, with menus and reservations to be released closer to the holiday, on its holiday page. The resort lights its tree the next day; see holiday lights and Christmas events.

What is open and closed

  • Trash, recycling and yard waste: no collection on Thanksgiving Day, the county’s garbage collection page says. Check your adjusted day in the Recycle Coach app or call the Solid Waste Division at 904-827-6980. See our trash and recycling guide.
  • Transfer stations: Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road are closed Thanksgiving Day.
  • County offices: closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27.
  • Libraries: the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch, 101 Library Blvd., closes at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, and reopens Saturday, Nov. 28. Book drops stay open.
  • Schools: St. Johns County School District students and teachers are off Nov. 23-27.

The library also has a Teen: Baking Holiday Pies session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24; RSVP is required on its event listing.

What this means for you

  • The Mickler’s Landing 5K is full. If you still want to run on the beach, the fun run had four spots left on Nov. 7; otherwise the Nocatee 5K and 10K take entries until the start.
  • Hold your trash until your next scheduled day after Thanksgiving.
  • For Black Friday store hours and Small Business Saturday, see Black Friday and holiday shopping.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a turkey trot in Ponte Vedra Beach on Thanksgiving 2026?

Yes, two. The First Coast Turkey Trot starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at Mickler’s Landing; its 5K is full, and its 1-mile fun run had four spots left on Nov. 7. The Psych Ed Connections Turkey Trot 5K and 10K start at 8 a.m. at Nocatee Station Field and are still open.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in St. Johns County?

No. St. Johns County makes no garbage, recycling or yard waste collections on Thanksgiving Day, and both transfer stations are closed.

Are St. Johns County offices and libraries open the day after Thanksgiving?

No. County offices close Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27. Libraries close at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 and reopen Saturday, Nov. 28.

When is Thanksgiving break for St. Johns County schools?

Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar.