Thanksgiving in New Jersey: Turkey Trots and Holiday Traditions
Date Published
On Thanksgiving, New Jersey is a turkey trot state: the big Thursday-morning tradition is a charity 5K in towns like Flemington, West Windsor, Chatham, South Orange and Jersey City, not a big parade. Around the races you will find farm stores selling pies and turkeys, cranberry country in the Pinelands, and tree lightings that kick off the holiday season the weekend after.
We checked 14 places against their own official sites. Dates for this year are in one section near the end; everything else describes what returns every year.
Is there a Thanksgiving Day parade in New Jersey?
We found no official Thanksgiving Day parade in the state. The big holiday parades here come later, such as the Ocean City Christmas Parade on Asbury Avenue in early December; check your own town's site for any small local parade. The Thanksgiving Day tradition is the turkey trot, usually a 5K that starts between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and raises money for local charities.
How we chose
Every pick is in New Jersey and was confirmed through its own official site or a government or National Park Service page. We led with the largest cities and towns, then the farms and traditions the state is known for. We left out anything we could not confirm, including several state parks whose official pages would not load. Treat hours as typical and check the official site before you go.
Central Jersey: the turkey trot heartland
Central Jersey packs in several Thanksgiving races, plus orchards and a Friday tree lighting in Princeton.
Mercer County Turkey Trot, West Windsor
The Mercer County Turkey Trot is a 5K on a USATF-certified course with professional timing, run in Mercer County Park in West Windsor. A 1-mile walk starts shortly after the 5K. Registration goes through RunSignup, and the official site is mercercountyturkeytrot.com.
Trinity Turkey Trot, Princeton
The Trinity Turkey Trot is based at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, and benefits local housing and children's programs. There is no race-day registration, so sign up ahead, and collect your bib at the church in the days before Thanksgiving. Details are at trinityturkeytrot.org. If you are staying in town, see our Princeton area page.
CEA/Johanna Foods Turkey Trot, Flemington
The CEA/Johanna Foods Turkey Trot starts at Court Street Park, 43 Park Avenue, Flemington, in Hunterdon County. It offers a 5K run and a 2-mile walk, and groups of four or more get a discount. Register at runsignup.com/CEATurkeyTrot.
Two Town Turkey Trot, Lambertville
The Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce lists the Two Town Turkey Trot on its events calendar, at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning in the year we checked, starting from 11 Bridge Street in Lambertville. The two towns are Lambertville and New Hope, Pennsylvania, just across the Delaware River, and the race offers a 5K and a 1-mile walk. See the Lambertville area page and explorelambertville.com.
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, is open daily and runs shortened hours in Thanksgiving week. In the year we checked it closed at noon on Thanksgiving Day and stayed open late the day before, so plan your pie pickup for Wednesday. It also holds a pie sampling weekend in mid-November. Details at terhuneorchards.com.
Palmer Square Tree Lighting, Princeton
The Palmer Square Annual Tree Lighting takes place on the Green at Palmer Square, 40 Nassau Street, Princeton, on the Friday after Thanksgiving from 5 to 6 p.m. Palmer Square itself is closed on Thanksgiving Day and opens with holiday hours from that Friday through December 25. See palmersquare.com/holiday-happenings.
Gateway and North Jersey: city races
Jersey City Turkey Day 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
The Jersey City Turkey Day 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run starts at the Colgate Clock at the foot of Essex Street on the waterfront, with the fun run at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 10 a.m. Prices rise in mid-November, before race week, so register early at the official RunSignup page. Read more on our Jersey City area page.
D&I Fitness Turkey Trot, South Orange
The D&I Fitness Turkey Trot is a 5K run and 2-mile walk from 9 West South Orange Avenue, South Orange, with race-day registration typically open from 7 to 7:45 a.m. If you decide late, this is a race you can still join on the morning. Info at dandifitness.com/turkeytrot.
The Chatham Turkey Trot, Chatham
The Chatham Turkey Trot gathers at 110 Van Houton Avenue in Chatham, under the American flag, with a 1-mile fun run followed by the 5K. It raises money for first responders and diabetes research, and registration closes in mid-November, well before race day. Register at the official RunSignup page.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Paterson
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 72 McBride Avenue Extension, Paterson, keeps its grounds open sunrise to sunset, and the National Park Service page does not list a Thanksgiving closure. The Great Falls are a good walk-off-the-dinner stop. Rangers are typically on site from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but call 973-523-0370 to confirm holiday staffing. See nps.gov/pagr.
Skylands: the farm store
Alstede Farms, Chester
Alstede Farms in Chester, Morris County, takes Thanksgiving pre-orders for turkeys, pies and sides, with a pickup window in the days before the holiday. The Farm Store is typically open daily but closed on Thanksgiving Day itself. Its cut-your-own Christmas trees open the weekend before Thanksgiving. See alstedefarms.com.
Pinelands and Shore: cranberries and lights
Whitesbog Village, Browns Mills
Whitesbog Village, 120 W. Whites Bog Road, Browns Mills, is a historic cranberry and blueberry farm in the Pinelands, open daily from sunrise to sunset. New Jersey ranks third among states in cranberry production, according to the State of New Jersey, and the Cranberry History Hikes here include a tasting of local cranberry salsa. Call 609-893-4646 for current hikes. See whitesbog.org.
Historic Smithville, Galloway
Historic Smithville, on Route 9 in Galloway, lists Thanksgiving Day hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its official hours page, which makes it a rare open-on-the-holiday shopping village. Holiday hours run from late November to just before Christmas, and the Holiday Light Show on the Lake runs from late November into early January, so the village is at its best after dark. See historicsmithville.com and our Smithville area page.
Christmas Tree Lighting, Cape May
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) holds its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving week, with a free craft show alongside. That makes it the season's opener, not a post-turkey event. Santa lights the tree in the evening. See capemaymac.org and our Cape May area page.
This year's dates
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. These dates come from each event's official site; confirm before you go.
- Mercer County Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 26; 5K at 8:30 a.m., 1-mile walk at 8:45 a.m.
- CEA/Johanna Foods Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 26; 9:30 a.m. start; $40 per event on the registration page.
- Chatham Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 26; 1-mile at 8:30 a.m., 5K at 9 a.m.; 5K $25, 1-mile $20; registration closes 8 a.m. November 16.
- D&I Fitness Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 26; race-day registration 7 to 7:45 a.m.; packet pickup at D&I Fitness November 23 to 25.
- Jersey City Turkey Day 5K: Thursday, November 26; 1-mile at 9 a.m., 5K at 10 a.m.; prices rise after November 15.
- Two Town Turkey Trot, Lambertville: Thursday, November 26, 8:30 a.m.
- Palmer Square Tree Lighting: Friday, November 27, 5 to 6 p.m.
- Cape May Christmas Tree Lighting: Saturday, November 21, 4 to 8:30 p.m., Santa at 7 p.m.
- Terhune Orchards: Wednesday, November 25, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, November 26, 9 a.m. to noon.
- Ocean City Christmas Parade: Friday, December 4 (see ocnj.us/christmas-parade).
What should you do Thanksgiving week in New Jersey?
Work through this checklist from the Sunday before the holiday.
- Register for your turkey trot early; some close sign-up or raise prices well before the holiday.
- Order the turkey or pies from a farm store by its pre-order deadline.
- Pick up produce and pies on Wednesday; many farm stores close or shorten hours Thursday.
- Walk it off at an open park, and call ahead to confirm holiday staffing.
- Friday: see a tree lighting, or browse a holiday village like Smithville.
For more events, see our events calendar, the weekend picks and our outdoors guide.
Last verified: November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Thanksgiving Day parade in New Jersey?
We found no official Thanksgiving Day parade in New Jersey. The state's Thanksgiving morning tradition is the turkey trot, a charity 5K in towns such as Flemington, West Windsor, Chatham and Jersey City. Holiday parades, like the Ocean City Christmas Parade, follow in early December.
What is the oldest turkey trot in New Jersey?
We could not confirm which New Jersey turkey trot is oldest from an official source, so we do not name one. Each race's official page, such as those for the CEA/Johanna Foods Turkey Trot in Flemington and the Mercer County Turkey Trot in West Windsor, gives its own details.
Can you sign up for a New Jersey turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning?
Some races allow it and some do not. The D&I Fitness Turkey Trot in South Orange takes in-person registration from 7 to 7:45 a.m. on race day, and the Flemington CEA/Johanna Foods Turkey Trot keeps online registration open until shortly before its start, while the Trinity Turkey Trot in Princeton does not. Check each race's RunSignup page.
Are farm stores open on Thanksgiving Day in New Jersey?
Mostly not, or only briefly. In the year we checked, Terhune Orchards in Princeton was open until noon on Thanksgiving Day and Alstede Farms in Chester was closed. Order ahead and pick up on Wednesday.
What is open in New Jersey the day after Thanksgiving?
Palmer Square in Princeton holds its tree lighting the Friday after Thanksgiving and reopens with holiday hours. Historic Smithville in Galloway also runs extended holiday hours from that Friday. Check each official site for current times.