COLUMBUS, Ga. - Thanksgiving Day 2026 falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, and it shifts a few routines in Columbus. Garbage pickup for Thursday routes moves up a day, Muscogee County students get the whole week off, and government offices, banks and post offices close. Here is what changes, plus a Thanksgiving-themed race, a holiday hockey game and a free community dinner.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so the changes start there. Post offices are closed and there is no regular mail delivery on Thursday, Nov. 26. Most banks are also closed because the Federal Reserve observes the holiday, though ATMs and online banking keep working.

Garbage Pickup Moves Up a Day

Columbus handles Thanksgiving differently from many cities. Instead of pushing Thursday pickups back a day, the city collects Thursday routes early, on Wednesday, Nov. 25, according to the Columbus Consolidated Government's holiday schedule. Residents with Thursday service should have their carts at the curb on Wednesday morning.

Friday is a regular service day. The city lists the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27, as a city holiday, but garbage service still runs on Friday's regular routes and there is no make-up day. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday customers keep their normal schedule all week.

The city uses the same Wednesday make-up pattern for most holidays. Earlier this fall, for example, Monday routes were collected on a Wednesday after Labor Day and Columbus Day. Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, is different: there is no garbage service that day and no make-up day.

Schools Are Out All Week

Muscogee County School District students are off for the entire week of Thanksgiving. The district's 2026-27 calendar closes schools from Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 27. With the weekends on each side, that gives students nine days in a row off, from Saturday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 29.

Classes resume Monday, Nov. 30. The break comes about two weeks after Veterans Day, when schools are also closed. Families planning trips should note that Monday, Nov. 30, is a regular school day.

A Turkey Trot Before the Holiday

Columbus' Thanksgiving-season race comes a few weeks early this year. The 12th annual Viking Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run is Saturday, Nov. 7, at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School, 2020 Kay Circle. The race starts and finishes on Deimel Field, and the 5K course winds through the St. Anne-Pacelli campus and around the school grounds.

The fun run is first, from 8:30 to 9 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9 a.m. Registration before the Oct. 24 deadline was $15 for fun runners 18 and younger, $25 for adults and $30 for the 5K, and prices went up after that date. Proceeds benefit the Vikings Booster Club and the school's athletic programs, especially the cross country and soccer teams.

Hockey on Thanksgiving Eve

The Columbus River Dragons have a home game the night before Thanksgiving. The team hosts Twin City at the Columbus Civic Center on Wednesday, Nov. 25. It is one of 28 home games on the River Dragons' 2026-27 schedule.

The game falls on a night when students are already on break and many families have relatives in town. Tickets are available on the team's website, rdragons.com. Twin City is one of Columbus' biggest rivals, with nine meetings between the teams this season.

What's Open: Restaurants

Food Network checked with national chains for a list it published Nov. 3, 2026. The four chains below are among those on that list, and each said it plans to open on Thanksgiving. Use each chain's online locator to confirm the Columbus or Phenix City restaurant nearest you is taking part.

Waffle House told Food Network that its restaurants keep regular hours on the holiday, and it noted that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year at many of them. Cracker Barrel offers an online wait list, which can save a long stand in the lobby at midday. Denny's says pie is sold by the slice or whole through Jan. 12, and prices vary by restaurant.

Local, independent restaurants in Columbus had not posted 2026 Thanksgiving hours in sources Columbus Times could find by mid-November. Many family-owned spots close for the day, and those that open often require reservations. If you have a favorite, call it this week rather than on Thursday morning.

Stores: Mostly Closed Thursday

Most large chains have said they will close their stores on Thanksgiving, according to company statements compiled by the consumer site FedRateCalc and reviewed Nov. 8, 2026. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kohl's, The Home Depot and Lowe's all listed Thanksgiving as a closed day for 2026. Costco's standing holiday list also closes its warehouses on Thanksgiving.

Walgreens said in a Nov. 5, 2026, release that its stores will keep regular business hours on Thanksgiving. Pharmacy counters can keep different hours than the front of the store, so check the pharmacy line if you need a prescription. CVS had not posted a 2026 Thanksgiving schedule in the sources reviewed.

Columbus Times could not confirm 2026 Thanksgiving hours for Publix, Kroger, Aldi or Dollar General. Hours can also differ between two locations of the same chain. Shop for the big meal by Wednesday, and call your store if you might need it on Thursday.

City Offices, METRA Buses, Banks and the Library

METRA, the city's bus system, will run no buses on Thursday, according to its FY2027 holiday schedule, revised June 22, 2026. On Friday, buses will run on the Saturday schedule, which is lighter than a weekday, and the METRA administrative office will be closed. Riders with questions can call METRA at 706-225-4673.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's 2026 holiday schedule, so post offices and other federal offices observe it. The Federal Reserve lists Nov. 26 as a holiday, and banks that follow the Fed calendar will not process checks or transfers that day. ATMs and online banking keep working, but a deposit made Thursday will post later.

The Chattahoochee Valley Libraries' hours page did not list a Thanksgiving schedule as of Nov. 14. The main Columbus Public Library at 3000 Macon Road normally opens at 10 a.m. on Thursdays, but its regular weekday hours may not apply on a holiday. Call the library at 706-243-2669 before you head over.

Phenix City's government website could not be reached when Columbus Times checked, and the city's 2026 Thanksgiving office schedule could not be confirmed. Residents can call City Hall earlier in the week to confirm whether offices close Thursday and Friday. Russell County residents should also check their own garbage provider's schedule.

Museums and Attractions

The National Infantry Museum closes at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and is closed all day Thursday, according to its 2026 special-hours list. The National Civil War Naval Museum lists Thanksgiving Day as closed. The Columbus Museum says it is closed on holidays.

Muscogee County schools are out the entire week of Nov. 23, according to the district calendar, so many families will be looking for something to do on Friday and over the weekend. The Infantry Museum and the Naval Museum list no closure on Friday, Nov. 27. Hours change quickly around a holiday, so call ahead.

A Free Thanksgiving Dinner

The Columbus Dream Center serves a free Thanksgiving dinner at its building at 38 W. Greenwood Ave. The center lists the dinner from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and no reservations are required. The center has not yet posted the 2026 date on its website, so call ahead or check its holiday page before you go.

The Dream Center also organizes volunteers for the holiday. Its holiday page has sign-ups for people who want to serve the dinner, build Thanksgiving baskets or deliver them to families ahead of the holiday. Volunteer spots for holiday meals often fill early, so it helps to sign up a few weeks ahead.