Destin & Emerald Coast Thanksgiving 2026: restaurants open, turkey trots and what's closed
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. State offices in Florida close Thursday and Friday; post offices close Thursday only. 1 turkey trot listed for Thanksgiving week; next: Sandestin Turkey Trot (Sunday, Nov. 22, 7:30 a.m. (5K); 1-mile walk 7 a.m.). Sources: state holiday laws, county notices and organizers, checked Nov. 1, 2026.
Destin, Panama City Beach & the Emerald Coast Thanksgiving 2026 has one "presented by" spot, and it is open.
What's open and closed
Okaloosa County, FL
| Service | Thu, Nov. 26 | Fri, Nov. 27 | Details and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| StateFlorida state offices | Closed | Closed | State holiday on Thursday and Friday. Fla. Stat. 110.117 (Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving) |
| FederalPost offices and federal offices | Closed | Open | Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday; the Friday after is not. Post offices and federal offices close Thursday. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays 2026 |
Okaloosa County: official 2026 notice not published yet. Trash pickup, landfill and county office hours are added here as soon as the county or town posts them. Okaloosa County
Walton County, FL
| Service | Thu, Nov. 26 | Fri, Nov. 27 | Details and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| StateFlorida state offices | Closed | Closed | State holiday on Thursday and Friday. Fla. Stat. 110.117 (Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving) |
| FederalPost offices and federal offices | Closed | Open | Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday; the Friday after is not. Post offices and federal offices close Thursday. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays 2026 |
Walton County: official 2026 notice not published yet. Trash pickup, landfill and county office hours are added here as soon as the county or town posts them.
Thanksgiving week, day by day
Restaurants open on Thanksgiving
We list a restaurant only when it confirms its Thanksgiving Day hours on its own page or with us, and we show the date it confirmed. None has yet.
Restaurant owners: are you open on Thanksgiving?
Send your Thanksgiving hours, menu and price and we add you free, with the date you confirmed. Claimed listings show the menu, price and booking link; others show name and hours only.
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Where to help
Food banks and community kitchens need the most volunteers the week before Thanksgiving. Shifts are listed here only when the organizer publishes them; use "Send it" above to add one.
Plan the long weekend
November in Destin, Panama City Beach & the Emerald Coast averages a high of 71°F and a low of 46°F, with rain on about 5 days of the month (NOAA, 1996-2025).
Christmas events this weekendThings to do with kidsPet-friendly guideFishing this weekendGolf over the long weekendEverything this weekendAll restaurants Okaloosa County newsWalton County newsSanta Rosa County newsBay County news
Staying for the long weekend
Compare hotels and rentals for Thanksgiving week, with prices and availability.
Help us keep this guide right
- Report a schedule change: trash pickup, a closed office or a landfill. Send the link to the notice if you have it.
- Add a turkey trot, free meal or event: free listing once it is reviewed.
- Ran a turkey trot? Send a photo: we credit you with a Community contributor badge.
Questions people ask
What day is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, Nov. 26. The Friday after is a state holiday in Florida.
Is mail delivered on Thanksgiving?
No. Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday, so post offices are closed and there is no regular mail delivery on Thursday. The Friday after is not a federal holiday.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Santa Rosa County?
No collection on Thanksgiving; all services run one day behind for the rest of the week. Navarre Beach Saturday garbage: no change. Source: Waste Pro, Santa Rosa holiday schedule 2026.
When are the turkey trots in Destin, Panama City Beach & the Emerald Coast?
Sandestin Turkey Trot (Sunday, Nov. 22, 7:30 a.m. (5K); 1-mile walk 7 a.m., Miramar Beach, $50; $40 military and 17 and under).
What is the weather like at Thanksgiving in Destin, Panama City Beach & the Emerald Coast?
November averages a high of 71°F and a low of 46°F, with rain on about 5 days of the month (NOAA records 1996-2025, station Niceville).
Sources
- Fla. Stat. 110.117 (Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving), checked Nov. 1, 2026
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays 2026, checked Nov. 1, 2026
- Organizer registration page