Turkey trots, Thanksgiving weekend shows and events, where to eat, and what's open, closed or running a day late in 2026.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. The morning belongs to three turkey trots in Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Ojai. Christmas on the Farm opens in Moorpark the next day, and Protégé Performing Arts dances The Nutcracker in Thousand Oaks that weekend.
Every listing below was checked against the organizer's or agency's own page. Free community dinners, turkey giveaways and most restaurant menus aren't posted for 2026 yet, and we'll add them as they are. For the rest of the season, see Halloween in Ventura County and the full events calendar.
Quick facts
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26, 2026. Sunset in Ventura is about 4:49 PM.
Turkey trots
Ventura and Ojai at 8 AM; Thousand Oaks has a mile at 8 and a 5K at 8:30.
Buses
No local bus service anywhere in the county on Thanksgiving Day. Metrolink runs a weekend schedule.
Trash pickup
Thursday pickups move to Friday almost everywhere, and in most cities Friday's move to Saturday.
Closed Thursday and Friday
County offices, the courts, the DMV, most city halls and nearly every library.
Small Business Saturday
November 28, with Findings Market's holiday fair on South Oak Street in Downtown Ventura.
Last checked September 15, 2026. Organizers are still posting Thanksgiving details, and this page gets updated as they do.
Thanksgiving morning
Turkey Trots
All three start around 8 AM on Thanksgiving Day. Packet pickup is earlier in the week for Ventura and Thousand Oaks, so plan on an extra stop.
Thursday, November 26: 5K at 8 AM, kids 1K at 9:15 AM
Hofer Dr at the Ventura Auto Center
5K $43.80 through October 14, $48.90 through November 5, then $54 (fees included). Kids 1K (14 and under) $17.50.
A Thanksgiving morning 5K with a medal and a 2026 shirt or mug for every runner, plus a kids 1K. Bring nonperishable food for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging's food drive.
Packet pickup is Wednesday, November 25 from 1 to 5 PM at Mile 26 Running Co., 2222 E Thompson Blvd, or race morning from 7 AM.
Thursday, November 26: festivities 7 AM, the Zack Zernik Mile 8 AM, 5K 8:30 AM
Kingsmen Memorial Field, Cal Lutheran, 60 W Olsen Rd
Register on RunTheDay, where the prices are posted
Thousand Oaks' Thanksgiving run, with an untimed run-or-walk mile before the 5K. It benefits Scouting America's Ventura County Council, the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Foundation and Hospice of the Conejo.
Strollers are fine, dogs aren't. Packet pickup is Tuesday, November 24 (1 to 7 PM) and Wednesday, November 25 (11 AM to 5 PM) at Road Runner Sports, 1714 Newbury Rd, Newbury Park.
Opens Friday, November 27. Daily 9 AM to 5 PM through December 24
Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Rd
$16 online for November 27 and weekends (on sale November 1). Weekdays from November 30, $12 at the gate. Under 2 and parking free.
Wagon rides, a holiday train and animal shows, with Santa on November 27 and weekends from 11 AM to 4 PM through December 20. Big Wave Dave's Christmas Trees opens on the farm the same day.
Turkey dinner $29.99, kids $12.99. To-go meal for four $89.99
Sliced turkey with sage dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, salad and pumpkin pie, to eat there or take home. A limited menu runs that day.
Order the to-go meal online at blackangus.com starting November 1. The chain's Thanksgiving page covers all its restaurants; Ventura is the only one in the county.
$250 adults, $100 under 12, plus tax and tip. Turkey to go from $495
The splurge: a Thanksgiving brunch buffet, plus a turkey-to-go dinner that serves 4 to 6 and $55 holiday pies.
Pie pre-orders open October 1.
Details & organizer
Offices, libraries, buses & trash
What's Open and Closed
Government offices
County offices and courts
County of Ventura offices and the Superior Court are closed Thursday and Friday. Source
City halls
Closed Thursday and Friday in Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Fillmore, Port Hueneme and Westlake Village. Santa Paula City Hall is closed Wednesday through Friday. Camarillo, Ojai and Simi Valley haven't posted their 2026 dates yet.
DMV
Every California DMV office is closed Thursday and Friday. Source
Post offices
Closed on Thanksgiving Day, a postal holiday. The Friday after isn't one. Source
Libraries
Closed Thursday and Friday
Every Ventura County Library branch, plus the Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark and Blanchard (Santa Paula) libraries and LA County Library's Westlake Village branch.
Closing early Wednesday
Ventura County Library, Simi Valley, Camarillo and Moorpark close at 5 PM on Wednesday, November 25. Simi Valley reopens Saturday at 10 AM.
Oxnard
Oxnard Public Library hasn't posted 2026 holiday hours. Its branches are closed on Fridays anyway.
Attractions
Reagan Library
The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day and open its usual 10 AM to 5 PM the rest of the weekend. Source
Channel Islands National Park
The visitor center at Ventura Harbor is closed Thanksgiving Day. Source
Channel Islands Maritime Museum
Closed Thanksgiving Day, then open Friday from noon to 4 PM. Source
Underwood Family Farms
The Somis Farm Market is closed Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas on the Farm in Moorpark opens Friday. Source
Ojai Community Farmers' Market
Its Thursday afternoon market is closed on Thanksgiving. Source
Buses and trains
Thanksgiving Day
No local buses: Gold Coast Transit, VCTC Intercity, Thousand Oaks Transit, Simi Valley Transit, Camarillo Area Transit, Moorpark City Transit, Valley Express and the Ojai Trolley all take the day off, and so do the Dial-A-Ride services.
Friday
Gold Coast Transit runs its regular service. The other agencies haven't posted Friday plans. Source
Metrolink
Weekend schedule on Thursday and Friday, with the Ventura County Line running. Source
Trash pickup
Ventura, Camarillo and Ojai
E.J. Harrison moves Thursday pickups to Friday and Friday pickups to Saturday. Source
Oxnard
Only Thursday pickups move, to Friday. No street sweeping or ticketing Thursday or Friday. Source
Simi Valley, Moorpark and Westlake Village
WM runs a day late from Thanksgiving on: Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday.
Thousand Oaks and Santa Paula
Athens Services runs a day late from Thanksgiving on: Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday. Source
Most free community dinners, turkey giveaways and volunteer shifts get posted in October and November. Here's what's confirmed so far, and the Ventura Turkey Trot is collecting nonperishable food on race morning.
Thursday, November 26, 2026. Sunset in Ventura that day is at about 4:49 PM.
What turkey trots are in Ventura County on Thanksgiving 2026?
Three so far. The Ventura Turkey Trot starts at 8 AM at the Ventura Auto Center, with a kids 1K at 9:15. The Five07 Turkey Day Dash at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks has an untimed mile at 8 AM and a 5K at 8:30. The Ojai Family Fund Turkey Trot, a 3-mile fun run, starts at 8 AM at Nordhoff High School.
Are buses running on Thanksgiving in Ventura County?
No local buses run on Thanksgiving Day: Gold Coast Transit, VCTC Intercity, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo and Moorpark transit, Valley Express and the Ojai Trolley all take the day off. Metrolink runs a weekend schedule on Thursday and Friday, including the Ventura County Line, and Gold Coast Transit is back to regular service on Friday.
Is trash pickup delayed Thanksgiving week?
Yes, starting Thursday. In Ventura, Camarillo, Ojai, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Santa Paula, Thursday pickups move to Friday and Friday pickups move to Saturday. In Oxnard and Port Hueneme only Thursday pickups move, to Friday. Monday through Wednesday aren't affected.
Are libraries and city halls open the day after Thanksgiving?
Mostly not. Nearly every library in the county, including all Ventura County Library branches, is closed Thursday and Friday, and several close at 5 PM on Wednesday. County offices, the courts, the DMV and most city halls are closed both days too.
Where can I see The Nutcracker around Thanksgiving?
Protégé Performing Arts dances it at the Scherr Forum in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, November 28 (1 and 6 PM) and Sunday, November 29 (2 PM), and Moorpark Civic Ballet does the Saturday before, November 21 (1:30 and 6:30 PM), in the same theater. In December, Ventura County Ballet performs at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on December 5 and 6, and Pacific Festival Ballet is at the Kavli Theatre December 18 to 20.
Which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving in Ventura County?
So far, Black Angus in Ventura (11 AM to 9 PM, with a $29.99 turkey dinner) and the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village brunch buffet (11 AM to 3:30 PM, $250) have posted their 2026 plans. Wood Ranch says all its restaurants close on Thanksgiving Day. Most restaurants post Thanksgiving menus in October and November, and we'll add them as they do.
Is the Reagan Library open on Thanksgiving?
No, the museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day. It's open 10 AM to 5 PM the rest of the weekend, and the Princess Diana exhibit that opens Saturday, November 7 will be on.
When does Christmas on the Farm open at Underwood Family Farms?
Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. It runs daily from 9 AM to 5 PM through December 24, with Santa on November 27 and weekends from 11 AM to 4 PM. Tickets for November 27 and weekends are $16 online and go on sale November 1.
Know something we should add?
Running a Thanksgiving dinner, a turkey trot or a food drive? Send it over and we'll check it and add it.
