Things To Do

Thanksgiving in South Carolina: Turkey Trots and Traditions

Date Published

Illustration of thanksgiving in south carolina with runners, palmetto trees and glowing holiday lights

At a glance

  • Where: Statewide, organized by region: Lowcountry, Grand Strand, Midlands and Upstate
  • When: Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday of November; most turkey trots start between 8 and 9 a.m.
  • Cost: Turkey trot fees vary by race and rise closer to the date; light shows range from free to about $35 per car. Check each official page
  • Free admission: South Carolina State Parks has announced free entry on the Friday after Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in South Carolina is built around a Thursday-morning turkey trot, a state park walk after the meal, and holiday light displays that switch on the same weekend. Thanksgiving Day 5Ks run in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Aiken, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island, and South Carolina State Parks has announced free admission on the Friday after Thanksgiving under its #OptOutsideSC banner.

Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Everything below recurs yearly; the exact 2026 dates sit in one section near the end. Race prices and start times change, so confirm each on its registration page.

How we chose

Every pick is in South Carolina and was checked on its own official or registration page for the current season. We kept events that return every year, and we left out anything we could not confirm. We found no confirmed Thanksgiving Day parade in the state, so this guide does not list one. The big parades in South Carolina tend to be December Christmas parades. Check your town's official site for those.

Where are the best turkey trots in the Lowcountry?

The Lowcountry has the densest cluster of holiday races in this guide, led by Charleston, with Beaufort and Hilton Head Island close behind. These are our picks, in the order you would drive them down the coast.

1. Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble 5K, Charleston

The Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble 5K in Charleston is a Thanksgiving Day 5K run and walk that typically starts at 9 a.m., with a Children's Fun Run afterward. Packet pickup and an expo are held the day before at Patriots Hall, Omar Shrine Center, 176 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant. Registration closes with no race-day sign-up, so register ahead on RunSignup.

2. Daniel Island Turkey Trot, Charleston

The Daniel Island Turkey Trot is a free three-mile trail run starting at 161 Seven Farms Drive on Daniel Island, Charleston. It is scheduled on a Saturday ahead of Thanksgiving rather than on the holiday itself, and finishes with an after-party at LIDI Restaurant. It is a good fit if you want to run without giving up Thursday morning.

3. Downtown Beaufort Turkey Trot, Beaufort

The Downtown Beaufort Turkey Trot is a Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry 5K on Thanksgiving morning, typically at 8 a.m., based at the Best Western Sea Island Inn, 1015 Bay Street, Beaufort. It offers a 5K run and a 5K walk, and race-day registration has been available for a higher fee. Pair it with a stroll through the oak-shaded streets of Beaufort.

4. Hilton Head Turkey Trot, Hilton Head Island

The Hilton Head Turkey Trot is the Island Rec Center's annual 5K, starting from the Boathouse parking lot in Hilton Head Plantation on Hilton Head Island, looping through the plantation and finishing where it starts. Registration includes a shirt, finisher medal and entry to the afterparty. Prices climb in steps through the fall, so early sign-up is cheaper.

5. Penn Center Heritage Days, St. Helena Island

Penn Center Heritage Days is the annual celebration of Gullah Geechee history at Penn Center, 16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, near Beaufort. It is held in November, ahead of Thanksgiving, with a symposium, a ticketed Lowcountry Supper, a Saturday-morning parade and a free open house at the York W. Bailey Museum. Penn Center describes Penn School as one of the nation's first schools for formerly enslaved people, and the campus is a National Historic Landmark District.

6. Hunting Island State Park, near Beaufort

Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Parkway, stays open on Thanksgiving Day, though the Visitor Center is closed that day. Typical park hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until 9 p.m. during daylight saving time. The park is known for its lighthouse, which was built in cast-iron sections and moved 1.3 miles inland in 1889 because of erosion. Check the park page for lighthouse hours before you plan a climb.

Where are the turkey trots on the Grand Strand and in the Midlands?

Myrtle Beach has two Thanksgiving Day 5Ks, and Aiken hands out prizes for the best-dressed runners.

7. Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot 5K, Myrtle Beach

The Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot 5K, a Thanksgiving fixture for two decades, typically starts at 8 a.m. at Grand Park Lake Courtyard, 1150 Farrow Parkway in Market Common. A free 50-yard Gobbler Kids' Dash follows at 9 a.m., with online registration required. See our Myrtle Beach guide for the rest of the weekend.

8. Plantation Lakes Turkey Trot, Carolina Forest

The Plantation Lakes Turkey Trot is a neighborhood race inside the Plantation Lakes community in Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach. The 5K starts at 8:45 a.m. and a 1-mile Gobble Wobble follows at 9 a.m. Packet pickup is at the Clubhouse, 8000 Juxa Drive.

9. Aiken Turkey Trot and 1-Mile Fun Run, Aiken

The Aiken Turkey Trot and 1-Mile Fun Run, which has run for more than a decade, is held at Citizens Park, 651 Old Airport Road, Aiken. The Fun Run starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K at about 8:30 a.m., with awards at 9:30 a.m. Best-dressed prizes have been offered, so a turkey hat is not out of place.

Where is the Thanksgiving race in the Upstate?

10. TreesUpstate Turkey Day Run, Greenville

The TreesUpstate Turkey Day Run in Greenville offers an 8K and a 5K fun run and walk, both starting at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with a discount for Upstate Running Club members. Register by the day before, on RunSignup.

What holiday lights open Thanksgiving weekend?

Five light shows in South Carolina typically start on or just before Thanksgiving, and two of them are free to walk.

11. Holiday Festival of Lights, James Island County Park, Charleston

The Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park, run by Charleston County Parks, starts in mid-November and runs nightly through December 31, typically 5:30 to 10 p.m. The park is on Riverland Drive in Charleston. Check the official page for ticket prices.

12. Holiday Lights on the River, Saluda Shoals Park, Irmo

Holiday Lights on the River is a light show at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo, in the Columbia area, run by the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission. It typically opens the night before Thanksgiving and runs nightly through December 31, 6 to 10 p.m. Pricing is per car and varies by night. On Thanksgiving night the lights stay on, but the extra activities are not offered.

13. Winter Wonderland at The Beach, Myrtle Beach

Winter Wonderland at The Beach lights the oceanfront Boardwalk in downtown Myrtle Beach, free, nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. The season starts the day before Thanksgiving and runs into early January. A tree lighting is held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Plyler Park, and free parking is at the Pavilion Parking Garage, 914 N. Kings Highway.

14. MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights, Murrells Inlet

MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights is a free walk-through display along the marsh at 4025 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet. It typically opens the day after Thanksgiving and runs nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. through December 31. Santa's Village adds Friday-to-Sunday activities until just before Christmas, and some children's activities cost extra.

15. Upstate Holiday Light Show, Easley

The Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park, 148 Crumpton Lane, Easley, is advertised as open from Thanksgiving through December 31. Weeknight hours are typically 6 to 9 p.m., later on weekends, and admission has been charged per car. Confirm the opening night on the official site.

What food traditions is South Carolina known for?

South Carolina's Thanksgiving table runs on state-designated foods and regional barbecue. South Carolina law names boiled peanuts the official state snack and the peach the official state fruit, and the state tourism site says South Carolina is the only state with all four basic barbecue sauce types, mustard-style included.

In the Lowcountry, Gullah Geechee cooking is part of the holiday story, and the Lowcountry Supper at Penn Center Heritage Days is a way to sample it. In Pendleton, Timms Mill grinds fresh grits and cornmeal. See Pendleton and our food and dining listings for places to eat.

Is there free state park admission on Black Friday?

Yes. South Carolina State Parks has announced free admission at its state parks on the Friday after Thanksgiving, promoted under the #OptOutsideSC banner. The exact date is in the dates section below, and the department posts added details on southcarolinaparks.com. For more ideas, see our outdoors guides.

This year's dates

Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26. These dates come from each event's official page.

  • Penn Center Heritage Days (42nd annual): November 12 to 14, 2026 (the parade is Saturday, November 14).
  • Daniel Island Turkey Trot: Saturday, November 21, 10 a.m.
  • Thanksgiving Day, November 26: Charleston Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble 5K (9 a.m.), Downtown Beaufort Turkey Trot (8 a.m.), Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot (8 a.m.), Plantation Lakes (8:45 a.m.), Aiken (8 and 8:30 a.m.), Greenville (8:30 a.m.), Hilton Head Turkey Trot.
  • Holiday Festival of Lights: November 13 to December 31.
  • Winter Wonderland at The Beach and Holiday Lights on the River: begin November 25.
  • MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights: begins November 27.
  • State parks free admission: Friday, November 27.

For more local happenings, see our South Carolina events calendar.

Your Thanksgiving weekend checklist

  1. Register for your turkey trot early; several have no race-day sign-up.
  2. Plan a post-meal walk at a state park, remembering the Hunting Island Visitor Center is closed on the holiday.
  3. Mark Friday for free state park admission.
  4. Pick one light show for Friday night: the Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet or James Island County Park in Charleston.
  5. Check hours on each official site before you leave.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are South Carolina state parks open on Thanksgiving Day?

Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, South Carolina, is open on Thanksgiving Day, though its Visitor Center is closed that day. Each South Carolina state park sets its own facility hours, so check the park's page on southcarolinaparks.com before you go.

Is there free admission to South Carolina state parks after Thanksgiving?

Yes. South Carolina State Parks has announced free admission at its state parks on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is November 27 in 2026. Check southcarolinaparks.com for added details.

Where can I run a turkey trot in South Carolina?

Thanksgiving Day 5Ks are held in Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Myrtle Beach, Aiken and Greenville, South Carolina. Most are on RunSignup and start between 8 and 9 a.m., so register before the holiday.

Is there a Thanksgiving parade in South Carolina?

We did not find a confirmed Thanksgiving Day parade in South Carolina. Christmas parades usually take place in December, and Penn Center Heritage Days on St. Helena Island holds a parade in November, ahead of Thanksgiving.

When do holiday lights open in South Carolina?

Several South Carolina light displays open around Thanksgiving. Winter Wonderland at The Beach in Myrtle Beach and Holiday Lights on the River in Irmo typically open the night before Thanksgiving, MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights in Murrells Inlet the day after, and the Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston in mid-November.