Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. Tupelo schools are off Nov. 23-27, WM shifts holiday pickups, and Ballard Park lights up Nov. 19. What's open and closed.
Last checked Oct. 26, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the Tupelo Public School District’s 2026-27 calendar (PDF), WM’s holiday schedule, Tupelo Parks and Recreation’s 2026 Leisure Service Guide (PDF) and the organizers linked below.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Tupelo Public School District students have the whole week off, WM’s holiday rule moves trash pickup for anyone whose day falls on the holiday, and the city’s Christmas season starts a week early with the Ballard Park lighting on Thursday, Nov. 19.
What this means for you
- School: TPSD is closed Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 27.
- Trash: no WM pickup on the holiday; your pickup moves to your next regular day. WM: 662-844-5523.
- Closed Thanksgiving Day: Elvis Presley Birthplace, the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, the Parks and Recreation office and the Tupelo Aquatic Center (closed through Nov. 29).
- Need a meal or want to help? The Salvation Army in Tupelo, 527 Carnation St., 662-842-9222.
Turkey trots
No Thanksgiving Day race in Tupelo was listed on RunSignup, the registration site most local races use, as of Oct. 26. The nearest we found is the Amory Turkey Trot 5K at Frisco Park in Amory, about 25 miles southeast, on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 a.m., per its RunSignup page. If a church, school or running club announces one, we will add it here with the start time and the link. Organizers can send us the details.
Thanksgiving week in Tupelo
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu. Nov. 19, 6 p.m. | Annual Christmas Lighting and Festival of Christmas Trees, free | Ballard Park, near the Parks and Recreation office |
| Sat. Nov. 21 | Deck The Depot holiday market | The Depot, 208 N. Front St. |
| Sat. Nov. 21, 4 to 7 p.m. | Chili Under the Stars cook-off, cornhole and sack races | Tombigbee State Park |
| Sun. Nov. 22 | Cooking Like The Stars, a Boys & Girls Clubs fundraiser | Park Heights, East Main Street |
| Fri. Nov. 27 to Sun. Nov. 29 | Black Friday Flea Market | Tupelo Furniture Market Building 1 |
Ballard Park lighting. Tupelo Parks and Recreation’s annual lighting kicks off the Christmas season with the Parkway Voice Wave choir, an open house at the Oren Dunn City Museum with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a fireworks show and the moment the lights around the park come on, according to the department’s guide. Families, churches, businesses and clubs can adopt and decorate a tree in the Festival of Christmas Trees for free; register at the Parks and Recreation office at Ballard Park, 662-841-6440.
Cooking Like The Stars pits four local cooks against a mystery basket, “Chopped” style. Tickets are $100 and include a three-course dinner by Park Heights and two glasses of wine, the Visit Tupelo listing says.
For the shopping weekend, see our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide.
What is open and closed on Thanksgiving Day
- Elvis Presley Birthplace, 306 Elvis Presley Drive: closed. It closes only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to the Parks and Recreation guide; normal hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
- Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, milepost 266: closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, the National Park Service says.
- Tupelo Parks and Recreation office: closed on all national holidays.
- Tupelo Aquatic Center: closed Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 29, according to its 2026 brochure (PDF); 662-840-3768.
- Stores: The Mall at Barnes Crossing had not posted its 2026 holiday hours by Oct. 26. Check our shopping guide closer to the day.
Trash pickup
WM collects Tupelo’s household trash twice a week. It does not collect on the holidays on its holiday schedule. If the holiday falls on your pickup day, your trash is picked up on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Look up your days on WM’s Tupelo page and see our trash and recycling guide for the rules.
School
The Tupelo Public School District lists Nov. 23-27, 2026, as district holidays for Thanksgiving. Second-quarter progress reports go out Nov. 17, the week before.
Giving and getting help
The Salvation Army of Tupelo, 527 Carnation St., runs holiday programs including its Angel Tree campaign. Call 662-842-9222 to ask about a Thanksgiving meal, volunteering or help with groceries. Churches and food pantries can send us their Thanksgiving meal times and we will list them.
Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Tupelo?
WM, the city’s trash hauler, does not collect on the holidays on its holiday schedule. If the holiday falls on your pickup day, your trash goes out on your next regular pickup day. Check WM’s holiday schedule or call 662-844-5523.
When is Thanksgiving break for Tupelo Public School District?
Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, are district holidays on the TPSD 2026-27 calendar.
Is the Elvis Presley Birthplace open on Thanksgiving?
No. The birthplace is closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center is also closed on Thanksgiving.
Is there a turkey trot in Tupelo?
No Thanksgiving Day race in Tupelo was listed on RunSignup, the registration site most local races use, as of Oct. 26. We will add one here if an organizer announces it.
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