Thanksgiving in Lawrenceville 2026: tree lighting, trash

Thanksgiving 2026 in Lawrenceville: Santa lights the courthouse tree 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, a Dacula 5K that morning, and school, library and trash changes.

Last checked Nov. 2, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Every date below comes from the agency or organizer named, linked.

Updated Nov. 2: The Light Park, a new walk-through light show at Gwinnett Field, is open Thanksgiving night, 6 to 10 p.m.; the Christkindl Market is closed Thanksgiving Day.

Updated Oct. 25: the city’s holiday schedule lists Thanksgiving and the day after as sanitation holidays, so Thursday trash pickups are delayed; our earlier note that nothing changed was wrong.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. That evening, Santa lights the great tree at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on the downtown square. Schools are off all week, the library closes early on Wednesday and county parks facilities close Thursday and Friday.

What	Thanksgiving week 2026	Source
Gwinnett County Public Schools	Thanksgiving break, Nov. 23-27	GCPS 2026-27 calendar
Gwinnett County Public Library	Closes 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25; closed Nov. 26-27	Library holiday schedule
Gwinnett Parks and Recreation facilities	Closed Nov. 26-27	Fall 2026 program guide
City trash and recycling	Thursday pickups delayed one day; Thanksgiving and the day after are sanitation holidays	City holiday schedule

Who to call

City of Lawrenceville Customer Service (trash and recycling): 678-407-6675

Gwinnett Historic Courthouse: 770-822-5450

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation: 770-822-8840

Aurora Theatre box office: 678-226-6222

Lighting of the Tree, Thursday, Nov. 26

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation kicks off the season on Thanksgiving night, 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 W. Crogan St. Santa lights the great tree, and there is live entertainment, self-guided courthouse tours, kids’ activities, s’mores and a gingerbread contest. It is free for all ages, according to the county’s fall 2026 program guide. The 1885 courthouse calls the lighting an annual tradition on its county page. The city’s downtown calendar lists the evening as Holiday Happenings.

Gingerbread House Contest: entries are shown at the lighting, with prizes. Register by Saturday, Nov. 21, and drop off your house by 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, or Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the courthouse. Free.

Free downtown parking is in the city’s decks and lots, including the Purple Deck, 147 E. Crogan St., and the Gold Lot at City Hall, 70 S. Clayton St. (city parking page).

Trash pickup changes

The City of Lawrenceville collects household trash weekly, Monday through Thursday, and recycling every other week on the same day, according to its trash and recycling schedule page. Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving are both on the city’s list of 12 sanitation holidays. “Whatever day of the week the holiday falls on, that day and all subsequent days of that week will have recycling and trash pick up delayed by 1 day,” the city’s holiday schedule says. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday pickups run as normal; Thursday customers are delayed. The city has not posted the exact day for Thursday customers that week, so call Customer Service at 678-407-6675. Large item pickup and free mulch do not run on a holiday that falls on a Friday. More on our trash and recycling page.

What is open and closed

Library: Lawrenceville Hooper-Renwick Branch, 56 Neal Blvd., Collins Hill Branch, 455 Camp Perrin Road, and Five Forks Branch, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, and stay closed Nov. 26-27, on the library’s 2026 holiday schedule.
Schools: no Gwinnett County Public Schools classes Nov. 23-27.
County parks facilities: closed Thanksgiving Day and the day after. Parks themselves keep their posted hours.
Indoor pool: the county lists Thanksgiving break among the school holidays when the Bethesda Park Aquatic Center leisure pool opens noon to 6 p.m. (pool page). The center is closed for renovations until Nov. 15; call 678-277-0880 before you go.
Stores and restaurants set their own hours. See our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.

Turkey trots and community dinners

Gwinnett Gobble Wobble 5K, Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 26, at Little Mulberry Park, 3855 Fence Road, Dacula, about six miles northeast. Entry is $33, and runners are asked to bring a canned good; proceeds go to The Pantry at Hamilton Mill UMC, Feeding the Valley Food Bank and other local food banks, according to the race’s registration page. The page does not list a start time.
Run For Shelter 5K, Saturday, Nov. 14, at Tribble Mill Park’s Holly Pavilion, 2125 Tribble Mill Parkway, Lawrenceville: packet pickup 8 a.m., a 1-mile run and walk at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 9:30 a.m. Fairview Presbyterian Church organizes it; entry is $20, or $10 each for groups of 10 or more, and all proceeds go to the Lawrenceville Salvation Army’s Home Sweet Home housing program (registration page).

We found no open community Thanksgiving dinner in Lawrenceville with 2026 dates on an organizer’s own website as of Oct. 25. The county’s Friendsgiving for its Active Adults 50+ program is noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Bethesda Park Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road: turkey and the fixings, games and goodies, $11 a person, listed in the fall guide. If your church, school or club is holding a dinner or a run, send us the details with a link and we will add it.

Thanksgiving week things to do

Native American History, 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, Lawrenceville Hooper-Renwick Branch: children 6 to 11 learn about Native American culture and make a recipe (library events).
Christmas Canteen opens Thursday, Nov. 19, at Aurora Theatre and runs to Dec. 23. Aurora calls the revue of Christmas classics suitable for all ages (show page).
Southern Ballet Theatre’s A Very Grinchy Christmas, Nov. 20-22, Lawrenceville Arts Center (details).
The Light Park at Gwinnett Field, 2500 Buford Drive: the walk-through light show is open 6 to 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night and every night of the holiday weekend; tickets online only (organizer’s page). See our Light Park page.
Atlanta Christkindl Market: open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 23-25, closed Thanksgiving Day, and open again 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Sunday (market’s page).
Brunch at Truck & Tap, 175 S. Perry St., Saturday, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. (events calendar).

Frequently asked questions

When is the Lawrenceville tree lighting in 2026? Thanksgiving night, Thursday, Nov. 26, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 W. Crogan St. Santa lights the tree, and the event is free.

Is there school the week of Thanksgiving in Gwinnett County? No. Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Thanksgiving break is Monday through Friday, Nov. 23-27, 2026.

Are Gwinnett County libraries open on Thanksgiving? No. The library closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, and stays closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27.

Does Lawrenceville trash pickup change for Thanksgiving? Yes, for Thursday customers. Thanksgiving Day and the day after are both on the city’s sanitation holiday list, and the city says pickups on and after a holiday move back one day that week. Monday to Wednesday pickups are not affected. Call Customer Service at 678-407-6675 to confirm your Thursday pickup.

What this means for you

Plan Thanksgiving evening around the 5:30 p.m. tree lighting downtown.
Gingerbread entries are due Nov. 23 or 24, and registration closes Nov. 21.
Return library books by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25.