Thanksgiving in Melbourne 2026: the Space Coast Turkey Trot downtown at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 26, the zoo's 3K, no trash pickup Thursday and what closes.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Space Coast Turkey Trot race page, Brevard Zoo, the City of Melbourne’s trash and recycling page and holiday notices, and the Brevard Public Schools 2026-27 calendar.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. The day starts early in Melbourne: the Space Coast Turkey Trot 5K steps off downtown at 7:30 a.m., and Brevard Zoo runs its own 3K at the same hour. There is no curbside trash pickup on Thanksgiving Day, and Brevard Public Schools are out the whole week.

Who to call

  • Space Coast Turkey Trot (Running Zone): Running Zone, 3696 N. Wickham Road
  • City Clerk’s Office (street closures): 321-608-7220
  • Waste Management (trash and recycling): 321-723-4455
  • Brevard Zoo: 8225 N. Wickham Road
  • Police non-emergency: 321-608-6731

Turkey trots

Space Coast Turkey Trot 5K, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, in downtown Melbourne. The organizers say 2026 is the race’s 23rd year. Registration is $30, or $20 for ages 1 to 12, and the price goes up after Nov. 3. There is also a virtual option. The race page lists awards for the top 10 men and women and full-size pumpkin pies for the first 300 finishers.

  • Early packet pickup: Running Zone, 3696 N. Wickham Road, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
  • Race-morning pickup: 6:15 to 7:15 a.m. at the race site, 2205 Front St.

Road closures for 2026 had not been posted when we checked. For last year’s race, the city’s street event notice said Front Street closed at New Haven Avenue and Melbourne Avenue closed from Front Street to Babcock Street, with event activity from 4 to 10 a.m. Parking was free in city-owned lots. The City Clerk’s Office provides a closure map at 321-608-7222.

Wild Turkey Trot 3K, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at Brevard Zoo, 8225 N. Wickham Road. The zoo’s second annual family run loops past animal habitats and native plants. Registration is through the zoo’s page.

Before the holiday

Brevard Zoo’s Thanksgiving at the Zoo family program is 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 24. Families tour the zoo’s commissary and make a holiday meal for the animals. $23 for members, $28 for nonmembers.

What is open and closed

Service Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26 Friday, Nov. 27
Curbside trash, recycling and yard waste (WM) No pickup Check the city’s notice
Melbourne City Hall Closed Closed in 2025; 2026 notice not yet out
Brevard Public Schools Thanksgiving break, Nov. 23-27 Thanksgiving break
Brevard Zoo Closed, except the 3K that morning Open
Riverview Park farmers market Not a market day Open Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The city’s trash and recycling page lists Thanksgiving Day among the holidays with no trash, recycling or yard waste collection. Last year the city’s notice said there would be no WM curbside garbage collection on Thanksgiving Day and that City Hall would close Thursday and Friday. The city does not post a standing make-up schedule; see our trash and recycling guide and watch the city news page in mid-November.

Community meals

We have not found a published 2026 community Thanksgiving dinner in Melbourne yet. Churches and nonprofits usually announce theirs in November. If your group is serving a free public meal, send the date, time and address through our contact page and we will list it here.

The weekend after

Shopping hours, Small Business Saturday and holiday markets are on our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide. The holiday season’s lights and Santa visits are on our holiday lights and Christmas events guide.

What this means for you

  • Runners: pick up packets early at Running Zone on Nov. 24 or 25 to skip the race-morning line.
  • Drivers: expect downtown closures around Front Street and Melbourne Avenue early Thanksgiving morning.
  • Trash: hold your carts on Thanksgiving Day and check the city’s holiday notice for the make-up day.

More: things to do this month and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Space Coast Turkey Trot in 2026?

Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. in downtown Melbourne. Race-morning packet pickup is 6:15 to 7:15 a.m. at 2205 Front St., Claude Edge Front Street Park.

Is there trash pickup in Melbourne on Thanksgiving?

No. The City of Melbourne lists Thanksgiving Day as a holiday with no trash, recycling or yard waste collection by Waste Management.

Is Melbourne City Hall open the day after Thanksgiving?

In 2025 City Hall closed on both Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after. The city had not posted its 2026 notice when we checked.

Is Brevard Zoo open on Thanksgiving?

The zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Its Wild Turkey Trot 3K runs through the zoo early on Thanksgiving morning, 7:30 to 9 a.m.

When is Thanksgiving break for Brevard Public Schools?

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