East Texas community guide for Thanksgiving week

East Texas Thanksgiving 2026: Food Pantries, Free Dinners, Turkey Trots & Friendsgivings

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Here’s where to find a free turkey or a hot meal, where to run off the pie, and how to celebrate with friends from Tyler and Longview to Lufkin, Athens and Cedar Creek Lake.

By , Texas Pride Realty Group - HomeSmart Stars · 972-754-0582 · bobmccranie@gmail.com · TodaysEastTexas.com

Need food right now? Call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org to find a food pantry near you. The East Texas Food Bank in Tyler supplies partner pantries and mobile distributions across the region, and many of them get a limited supply of holiday turkeys, so call ahead.

Many partner pantries get a limited supply of turkeys, so call ahead to ask what’s available.

Thanksgiving in East Texas is about showing up for your neighbors. Volunteers box turkeys at Maude Cobb in Longview, the Salvation Army in Tyler serves the same dinner it has for generations, and runners in turkey hats line up on South Broadway before the oven goes on. I put this guide together from Eventbrite’s Tyler-area listings, local news and race sites so you can find what you need in one place, whether that’s help with groceries, a place to volunteer, or a reason to get the family outside.

Events are listed by date within each section. Plans change, so always confirm times and registration with the organizer before you head out.

Food pantries and turkey giveaways

If you need groceries or a turkey this year, start here. Most 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet, so these are listed by when they usually happen. Call ahead and arrive early: distributions are first-come, first-served.

  1. East Texas Food Bank “Feed Our Friends” Thanksgiving distribution

    2026 date to be announced · Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler

    The food bank and Green Acres Baptist have teamed up the week of Thanksgiving to hand out shelf-stable food boxes and meat to more than a thousand families. In past years it was open to the public with no ID or paperwork needed, while supplies lasted.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KETK

  2. Goudarzi & Young turkey giveaways (Longview and Gilmer)

    2026 date to be announced · Goudarzi & Young Longview office; Gilmer Yamboree Grounds, Longview

    The law firm has given away Bear Creek smoked turkeys to families in need, first-come, first-served, at its Longview office and at the Yamboree Grounds (1300 Hwy. 271 N.) in Gilmer.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KETK

  3. Longview Thanksgiving Food Drive

    2026 date to be announced · Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview

    Now past its 40th year, this community drive boxes a turkey, bread and donated groceries for about 2,000 families. Food goes to pre-approved households, so apply early; volunteers and donations are welcome.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KLTV

Free community Thanksgiving dinners

Hot meals across East Texas that are free to attend. Nearly all of them welcome volunteers too.

  1. Hiway 80 Rescue Mission Thanksgiving meals (Tyler and Longview)

    2026 date to be announced · West Erwin Benevolence Center (Tyler); Men’s and Women’s & Family shelters (Longview), Tyler

    Hiway 80 has served Thanksgiving plates of turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rolls and cobbler starting at noon in Tyler and at its Longview shelters on W. Marshall Ave.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: CBS19

  2. Salvation Army of Lufkin community Thanksgiving meal

    · 11 a.m. (past years) · The Salvation Army, Lufkin

    An annual sit-down meal with turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, candied yams and pecan or sweet potato pie.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KETK

  3. Salvation Army of Tyler Thanksgiving dinner

    · 11 a.m.–1 p.m. (past years) · The Salvation Army, Tyler

    A Tyler tradition for well over a century. Recent dinners have been served to-go while supplies last, with plenty of volunteer slots.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KETK

  4. Community Thanksgiving Feast at Bowens Temple

    · 12–2 p.m. (past years) · Bowens Temple, Jacksonville

    A free Thanksgiving feast open to the public.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KETK

  5. commUNITY Thanksgiving Lunch at Circle M Crawfish

    · 12–2 p.m. (past years) · Circle M Crawfish, Big Sandy

    One free meal per person while supplies last. Dessert donations have been welcomed the day before.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KETK

  6. Longview Community Thanksgiving Dinner

    · Thanksgiving Day (past years) · Longview recreation center (site announced yearly), Longview

    A free, sit-down community dinner on Thanksgiving Day, now in its sixth-plus year, with a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. Volunteers are needed.

    2026 details pending — confirm before you go

    Source: KLTV

Turkey Trots

“Wobble before you gobble.” Register online ahead of time, since several East Texas trots don’t take race-day sign-ups.

  1. Los Pinos Ranch Wine Run Turkey Trot 5K

    · 9 a.m. · Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards, Pittsburg

    A new Thanksgiving-themed 5K at the vineyard, the Saturday before the holiday.

    Source: RaceMob

  2. Longview Turkey Trot

    · 1-mile 8:30 a.m.; 5K 9 a.m. · McCann Road area, Longview

    One of East Texas’ fastest-growing holiday races, with a 5K, a 1-mile fun run/walk, a costume contest, team competitions and medals for every finisher. Listings show two different addresses, so confirm the start line when you register.

    Source: RaceEntry

  3. 10th Annual Pinnacle Turkey Trot (Cedar Creek Lake)

    · 8:30 a.m. · The Pinnacle Club, Mabank

    A Thanksgiving Day 5K around the Pinnacle Club on Cedar Creek Lake.

    Source: Eventbrite

  4. More Thanksgiving morning trots

    · Check race site · Across East Texas

    Also on Thanksgiving Day: the Lindale Turkey Trot (7th annual), the Athens Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Run at the YMCA Cain Center benefiting Hope Springs Water, and in Northeast Texas the Paris Turkey Trot and the Turkey Trek in Daingerfield.

    Source: RaceMob

  5. Tyler Turkey Trot (24th annual)

    · Kids’ Dash 8:15 a.m.; 5K 9 a.m. · Racquet & Jog, Tyler

    Tyler’s Thanksgiving morning tradition: a chip-timed 5K run/walk plus a Kids’ Dash for ages 11 and under, with shirts and finisher medals. 2026 proceeds benefit Promise Academy in North Tyler. Registration is online only and closes at 6 p.m. on Nov. 25.

    Source: RunSignup

  6. Henderson Turkey Trot 5K & Kids’ Tot Trot (5th annual)

    · Check race site · Henderson

    “Keep your eyes on the pies” at this Saturday-after race with a 5K and a kids’ trot.

    Source: RaceMob

Friendsgivings and East Texas traditions

Celebrate with friends, and put a little East Texas on the table.

  1. Friendsgiving Flights & Bites at Rowdy Creek Ranch

    · 5 p.m. · Rowdy Creek Ranch, Gilmer

    Good friends, good wine and grateful hearts: a wine flight and bites Friendsgiving at Rowdy Creek Ranch.

    Source: Eventbrite

  2. Order a Tyler-smoked holiday turkey

    Thanksgiving season · order early · Greenberg Smoked Turkey, Tyler

    A Tyler institution: families road-trip in for these smoked turkeys, and in Thanksgiving season the shop ships thousands a day. Order early or plan your pickup ahead.

    Source: KLTV

Thanksgiving in East Texas: Frequently asked questions

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026.

Where can I get a free Thanksgiving meal in Tyler?

The Salvation Army of Tyler has served a free Thanksgiving Day dinner for more than a century, and Hiway 80 Rescue Mission serves holiday meals in Tyler and Longview. Confirm 2026 times before you go.

Where can I get a free turkey or groceries in East Texas for Thanksgiving?

Watch for the East Texas Food Bank’s holiday distributions, the Longview Thanksgiving Food Drive (apply ahead) and local turkey giveaways, or call 2-1-1 to find a pantry near you. Supplies are first-come, first-served.

Is there a Turkey Trot in Tyler on Thanksgiving?

Yes. The 24th annual Tyler Turkey Trot starts at Racquet & Jog on S. Broadway, with a Kids’ Dash at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m. Registration is online only. Longview, Lindale, Athens, Cedar Creek Lake and Henderson host trots too.

How can I volunteer on Thanksgiving in East Texas?

The Salvation Army, Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, the Longview Thanksgiving Food Drive, the Longview Community Thanksgiving Dinner and the East Texas Food Bank all rely on volunteers. Sign up early.

Event information was gathered from Eventbrite and the public sources linked with each listing as of October 27, 2026, and is provided for convenience only. Dates, times, eligibility and availability are set by each organizer and may change. Free food distributions are typically first-come, first-served while supplies last. Texas Pride Realty Group - HomeSmart Stars is not affiliated with these organizations or events unless stated. Listings marked “2026 details pending” are annual events whose 2026 schedules had not been announced at the time of writing.