Thanksgiving in St. George 2026: Quick Answer
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. The big local tradition that morning is The Gobbler 10K, 5K and Kids 1K, with races starting at 8 a.m. The city's Saturday Turkey Trot & Food Drive is cancelled for 2026, according to the City of St. George. Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State Park are open on the holiday, Red Cliffs Mall is closed, and the holiday season starts the next day: Tuacahn's Christmas in the Canyon lights up on Friday, November 27 and the city's Kickoff to Christmas is Monday, November 30. Typical Thanksgiving Day weather in St. George is a high near 59°F and a low near 31°F.
| Date | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Nov 18–21 | Jubilee of Trees at the Dixie Convention Center (gala Nov 20) |
| Nov 20 | Holiday Inn opens at Tuacahn's indoor Hafen Theatre (through Dec 22) |
| Wed, Nov 25 | Washington County Landfill closes at 3 p.m. |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving. The Gobbler at 8 a.m.; Red Cliffs Mall and the landfill closed |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Black Friday: Red Cliffs Mall 6 a.m.–9 p.m.; Christmas in the Canyon opens at Tuacahn |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Tuacahn Saturday Market, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Mon, Nov 30 | St. George Kickoff to Christmas and Washington City's Christmas in Dixie tree lighting, both 6–8 p.m. |
Thanksgiving Morning Race: The Gobbler
The Gobbler is St. George's Thanksgiving-morning run, with a 10K, a 5K and a Kids 1K. The event area opens at 7 a.m. and races start at 8 a.m. Registration for 2026 is open through the race's site, and the organizer says to register by November 15 to guarantee a shirt. Every runner gets a T-shirt, sweatband, medal and a 3-inch pie. Prices on the registration page are $25 for the Kids 1K, $36 for the 5K and $47 for the 10K. The race site advertises a new course and location; it was held at Tech Ridge in 2025, so check the course map before race morning. Proceeds from the race-day Turkey Toss go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Late November mornings are cold here, often near freezing at the start, so dress in layers you can shed.
No Turkey Trot this year. The City of St. George's Turkey Trot & Food Drive, a canned-food race held the Saturday before Thanksgiving for decades, is listed as cancelled for 2026. If you ran it for the food drive, the Utah Food Bank and local pantries still take donations; see below. For other races through the winter, see our running and marathons guide and Southern Utah half marathons.
Free Community Thanksgiving Dinners and Ways to Give
The longest-running free meal in town is the Habibian family's Community Thanksgiving Dinner, held every Thanksgiving Day since 1973 at the former Red Rock Canyon School, 747 E St. George Blvd. In recent years it has served more than 3,000 meals between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., free to anyone. The 2026 details had not been announced as of October 12; we'll update this page when they are.
If you'd rather give than eat, these organizations run food programs year-round:
- The Salvation Army, St. George, 803 S Bluff St, runs a food pantry and meal site.
- Switchpoint Community Resource Center, 948 N 1300 W, runs a food pantry and community kitchen.
- The Utah Food Bank stocks pantries across Southern Utah and runs free mobile pantries, including one in Washington City on October 22.
- The St. George Senior Center, 245 N 200 W, has held a holiday meal the week of Thanksgiving in past years; call ahead for 2026.
Our Southern Utah nonprofits directory lists more ways to volunteer over the holidays.
Eating Out on Thanksgiving
Few restaurants publish Thanksgiving hours this early, and we only list a restaurant here when the restaurant itself says it will be open. Black Bear Diner says on its 2026 holiday page that its diners serve Thanksgiving meals starting at 11 a.m., with turkey, ham or prime rib, and that take-home holiday meals can be pre-ordered starting seven days before; it also notes that hours vary by location, so call the St. George diner on Sunland Drive to confirm. In 2025, Fish Rock Grille at The Ledges offered pre-ordered Thanksgiving dinners for pickup; watch its site for a 2026 menu. Book early anywhere you go: the Thursday and the Friday after are among the busiest restaurant days of the year in a city full of visiting family. Browse the St. George restaurant guide for more options.
What's Open and Closed on Thanksgiving Day
| Place | Thanksgiving 2026 |
|---|---|
| Zion National Park | Open 24 hours. Expect holiday crowds; parking fills early |
| Snow Canyon State Park | Open 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily |
| Red Cliffs Mall | Closed. Black Friday 6 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Washington County Landfill | Closed; closes at 3 p.m. Wednesday |
| Tuacahn | Dark Thanksgiving Day; Christmas in the Canyon opens Friday |
| Sand Hollow Aquatic Center | Closed on Thanksgiving in 2025; 2026 holiday hours not yet posted |
Thanksgiving week is one of Zion's busiest of the late season. State Route 9 and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel are open again after the September rockfall; see our SR-9 reopening update. In 2025, the fall shuttle season ended the Sunday after Thanksgiving and private cars were allowed on the scenic drive in early December; check the park's site for 2026 shuttle dates. For a quieter holiday hike, Snow Canyon's Jenny's Canyon and Lava Flow trails are short and family-friendly; our best hikes near St. George guide has more.
Thanksgiving Weekend: The Holiday Season Starts
- Jubilee of Trees, Nov 18–21. Intermountain Health Foundation's decorated-tree village at the Dixie Convention Center, benefiting St. George Regional Hospital. The gala dinner and auction is Friday, Nov 20; tickets go on sale November 1.
- Holiday Inn at Tuacahn, Nov 20–Dec 22. Irving Berlin's musical in the indoor Hafen Theatre, 7:45 p.m. with select 2 p.m. matinees. Event details.
- Christmas in the Canyon, opens Fri Nov 27. Tuacahn's plaza lights up 6–9 p.m. on select nights through Dec 23, with a live nativity, Santa Monday through Saturday, $3 train rides and plaza "snow" every 15 minutes. Dates and dark nights.
- Tuacahn Saturday Market, Sat Nov 28. Local makers and food, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. See the Saturday Market guide.
- Kickoff to Christmas, Mon Nov 30, 6–8 p.m. The City of St. George's free evening with Santa photos, school choirs and local performers, hot chocolate and cookies, and late hours with crafts at the St. George Children's Museum. Event details.
- Christmas in Dixie tree lighting, Mon Nov 30, 6–8 p.m. Washington City's tree lighting at Veterans Park, with free cocoa and donuts and wagon rides to the historic Covington Home to see Santa.
Shopping local on the Saturday after Thanksgiving? Our St. George clothing stores guide and shopping guide cover the independent shops. December's lineup, from the Dickens Christmas Festival to Staheli Family Farm's lights, is in our Christmas events in Southern Utah guide, and all seasonal events are on the holidays page.
Thanksgiving Weather in St. George
NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for St. George put the typical Thanksgiving Day high at about 59°F and the low at about 31°F. November averages a high of 64°F, a low of 35°F and about two-thirds of an inch of rain for the whole month, so most years the holiday is dry and sunny. Expect frost in the morning and comfortable hiking by midday. Visiting family from colder places will want a jacket after sunset, when temperatures drop fast in the desert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Turkey Trot in St. George in 2026?
No. The City of St. George lists its 2026 Turkey Trot & Food Drive as cancelled. The Gobbler 10K, 5K and Kids 1K runs Thanksgiving morning, Nov 26, with races starting at 8 a.m.
Is there a free Thanksgiving dinner in St. George?
The Habibian family has hosted a free Community Thanksgiving Dinner every Thanksgiving Day since 1973, most recently at the former Red Rock Canyon School, 747 E St. George Blvd, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 2026 details had not been announced as of October 12.
Is Zion National Park open on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Zion is open 24 hours a day year-round, including Thanksgiving. Expect holiday crowds, and arrive early because parking fills.
Is Red Cliffs Mall open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Red Cliffs Mall is closed on Thursday, Nov 26, and opens at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, Nov 27, until 9 p.m.
What is the weather like in St. George on Thanksgiving?
Usually dry and mild. NOAA's climate normals put the typical Thanksgiving high near 59°F and the low near 31°F.
Sources
- The Gobbler and its 2026 registration page
- City of St. George: Turkey Trot & Food Drive and Kickoff to Christmas
- Washington City: Christmas in Dixie tree lighting
- Tuacahn: Christmas in the Canyon 2026 and Holiday Inn
- Intermountain Health Foundation: Jubilee of Trees
- Red Cliffs Mall holiday hours, Washington County Landfill, Zion National Park hours, Snow Canyon State Park
- Black Bear Diner: Thanksgiving
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 climate normals, St. George station USC00427516
Last updated October 12, 2026. Holiday hours change; we'll update this page as 2026 details are announced.
