South Carolina events › Thanksgiving in South Carolina 2026
Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26, 2026, and South Carolina’s long weekend runs through Sunday, November 29. We list 37 checked events that week in 21 towns, from Thanksgiving morning turkey trots to holiday light shows that open that weekend and the Clemson-South Carolina game on Saturday, November 28. Where an organizer publishes no price, the table says “See event site”.
At A Glance
| Events listed | 37 |
|---|---|
| Towns | 21 |
| Regions | 5 of 5 |
| Dates | Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 |
| Free to attend | 1 |
Upstate (6)
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric City Gobbler 5K (Anderson) | Thu, Nov 26 (5K 8:30 AM) | Anderson · Upstate | See event site |
| Electric City Gobbler 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run | Thu, Nov 26 (8:30AM-10:00AM) | Anderson · Upstate | See event site |
| Thanksgiving Day Race to Be Thankful 5K (Greenwood) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | Greenwood · Upstate | $25 |
| TreesUpstate Turkey Day Run (8K and 5K) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:30AM-10:00AM) | Greenville · Upstate | 8K and 5K $35; kids 10 and under $20 |
| Clemson football vs. South Carolina (IPTAY Day and Palmetto Series) Our guide | Sat, Nov 28 (Kickoff time to be announced (Saturday)) | Clemson · Upstate | See event site |
| Holiday Hop & Christmas Market | Sat, Nov 28 (3:00 – 7:00 pm) | Travelers Rest · Upstate | See event site |
Midlands (5)
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Very Berry Christmas (Community Christmas Tree Lighting, North Pole Nights) | Nov 20-Dec 18 | Newberry · Midlands | See event site |
| Fireflies Holiday Lights (Segra Park) | Nov 20-Jan 3, 2027 | Columbia · Midlands | General admission per person: November nights $10, December and January nights $12; more prices on the event page |
| Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Our guide | Nov 20-Jan 10, 2027 (Select nights 5-9pm; Santa visits through Dec 23) | Columbia · Midlands | See event site |
| Aiken Turkey Trot 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run (15th annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (1-mile fun run 8:00 AM; 5K 8:30 AM) | Aiken · Midlands | $20-$30 |
| Running of the Turkeys 5K (17th annual, York) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | York · Midlands | $30-$35 |
Lowcountry (10)
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Festival of Lights Our guide | Nov 13-Dec 31 (Nightly 5:30-10pm) | Charleston · Lowcountry | Per VEHICLE (up to 15 people), online/gate: GREEN night $15/$25 (24 nights: Nov 13-20, 22-25, 29-30; more prices on the event page |
| West Ashley Farmers Market Thanksgiving Market and Pumpkin Smash | Sun, Nov 22 (Sunday Nov 22, 12-4 PM) | Charleston · Lowcountry | See event site |
| Habitat for Humanity Turkey Trot 5K (Beaufort) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | Beaufort · Lowcountry | $45 |
| Historic Bluffton 5K Turkey Chase (17th annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | Bluffton · Lowcountry | $35 |
| Huffin' for the Stuffin' 5K (Summerville) | Thu, Nov 26 (9:00 AM) | Summerville · Lowcountry | $40 |
| Island Rec Turkey Trot 5K (39th annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | Hilton Head Island · Lowcountry | See event site |
| Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K (49th annual, Charleston) | Thu, Nov 26 (5K 9:00 AM; Kids Fun Run 10:30 AM) | Charleston · Lowcountry | $40-$60 |
| Harbour Town Lights and Christmas Tree Lighting (Sea Pines) | Nov 27-Jan 1, 2027 (All day; tree lighting 7:30 PM on Nov 27) | Hilton Head Island · Lowcountry | See event site |
| Hilton Head Symphony Holiday Pops in Bluffton | Sat, Nov 28 (7:00 PM) | Bluffton · Lowcountry | See event site |
| Hilton Head Symphony Holiday Pops | Nov 29-30 (Sun 4:00 PM; Mon 7:30 PM) | Hilton Head Island · Lowcountry | See event site |
Pee Dee (6)
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence Turkey Trot 5K (14th annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (5K 8:30 AM; Gobbler Wobbler Dash 9:35 AM) | Florence · Pee Dee | See event site |
| Hartsville YMCA Turkey Trot | Thu, Nov 26 (Fun Run 7:30 AM; 5K 8:00 AM) | Hartsville · Pee Dee | $40-$50 |
| Pee Dee IceCats hockey vs Thunderbolts (3-game homestand) | Nov 26-28 (7:15 PM each night (Nov 26, 27, 28) at Florence Center Arena) | Florence · Pee Dee | See event site |
| Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens Our guide | Nov 27-Jan 3, 2027 | Murrells Inlet · Pee Dee | Non-members $40 adult, $20 child 4-12; members $35 adult, $15 child 4-12 |
| Treasured Holiday Memories (model train exhibit) | Nov 27-Jan 3, 2027 | Murrells Inlet · Pee Dee | See event site |
| Small Business Saturday in Downtown Florence | Sat, Nov 28 | Florence · Pee Dee | See event site |
Grand Strand (10)
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visits with Santa and Friends in Center Court | Nov 21-Dec 19 (Saturdays 12:30pm-3pm) | Myrtle Beach · Grand Strand | See event site |
| The Great Christmas Light Show (drive-through) Our guide | Nov 23-Dec 30 | North Myrtle Beach · Grand Strand | Per vehicle, gate only: $25 standard vehicle on Village nights; more prices on the event page |
| Diamond Shores Conway Turkey Trot 5K (1st annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (5K 8:30 AM; Gobbler Wobbler Dash 9:35 AM) | Conway · Grand Strand | See event site |
| Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot 5K (20th annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | Myrtle Beach · Grand Strand | See event site |
| North Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot 5K (8th annual) | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM) | North Myrtle Beach · Grand Strand | See event site |
| Surfside Beach Turkey Trot | Thu, Nov 26 (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) | Surfside Beach · Grand Strand | See event site |
| Conway Black Friday: $15 Shop Small Gift Cards | Fri, Nov 27 (8:00 AM) | Conway · Grand Strand | Free |
| Wonderland of Lights on the MarshWalk | Nov 27-Dec 31 (Starts at 5:00 PM) | Murrells Inlet · Grand Strand | See event site |
| Small Business Saturday in Downtown Conway | Sat, Nov 28 | Conway · Grand Strand | See event site |
| Pet Photos with Santa (North Myrtle Beach, Nov 29) | Sun, Nov 29 | North Myrtle Beach · Grand Strand | See event site |
What We Could Not Confirm
We looked for these and could not confirm a 2026 date on an official page, so they are not listed. We re-check every week.
- Thanksgiving Day races in Columbia, Lexington, Spartanburg and Rock Hill: none found on an official page.
- Downtown Black Friday or Small Business Saturday events outside Conway: none posted on official pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. The events below run from the weekend before through Sunday, November 29.
Are there turkey trots in South Carolina on Thanksgiving morning?
Yes. The runs we checked are in the tables above with their towns and entry fees. Sign-up rules differ by race, so check each race page.
What else is on Thanksgiving weekend?
Several holiday light shows open that weekend, and Clemson hosts South Carolina in football on Saturday, November 28. See our Palmetto Bowl game day guide.
Keep Planning
- Christmas in South Carolina
- Christmas lights in South Carolina
- Christmas markets
- Holiday train rides
- New Year’s Eve in South Carolina
- November, December and January events, week by week
- This weekend and today in South Carolina
- Regions: Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry, Pee Dee and Grand Strand
Sources
- Holiday Festival of Lights
- A Very Berry Christmas (Community Christmas Tree Lighting, North Pole Nights)
- Fireflies Holiday Lights (Segra Park)
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
- Visits with Santa and Friends in Center Court
- West Ashley Farmers Market Thanksgiving Market and Pumpkin Smash
- The Great Christmas Light Show (drive-through)
- Aiken Turkey Trot 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run (15th annual)
- Diamond Shores Conway Turkey Trot 5K (1st annual)
- Electric City Gobbler 5K (Anderson)
- Florence Turkey Trot 5K (14th annual)
- Habitat for Humanity Turkey Trot 5K (Beaufort)
- Hartsville YMCA Turkey Trot
- Historic Bluffton 5K Turkey Chase (17th annual)
- Huffin' for the Stuffin' 5K (Summerville)
- Island Rec Turkey Trot 5K (39th annual)
- Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot 5K (20th annual)
- North Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot 5K (8th annual)
- Pee Dee IceCats hockey vs Thunderbolts (3-game homestand)
- Running of the Turkeys 5K (17th annual, York)
- Surfside Beach Turkey Trot
- Thanksgiving Day Race to Be Thankful 5K (Greenwood)
- TreesUpstate Turkey Day Run (8K and 5K)
- Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K (49th annual, Charleston)
- Conway Black Friday: $15 Shop Small Gift Cards
- Harbour Town Lights and Christmas Tree Lighting (Sea Pines)
- Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens
- Treasured Holiday Memories (model train exhibit)
- Wonderland of Lights on the MarshWalk
- Clemson football vs. South Carolina (IPTAY Day and Palmetto Series)
- Hilton Head Symphony Holiday Pops in Bluffton
- Holiday Hop & Christmas Market
- Small Business Saturday in Downtown Conway
- Small Business Saturday in Downtown Florence
- Pet Photos with Santa (North Myrtle Beach, Nov 29)
Every event above was read on the organizer’s or venue’s own page and checked between 2026-10-17 and 2026-10-25. Plans change, so confirm on the linked page before you go. See our editorial standards and corrections.
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Thanksgiving in South Carolina 2026”, itssouthcarolina.com/thanksgiving-in-south-carolina/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.