Thanksgiving in San Clemente is mostly a home-and-neighborhood holiday. There is no giant city parade here. What you get is an early run by the harbor, a few restaurants that stay open, a lot of takeout trays and a strong tradition of locals helping others. If you are new to town, or hosting for the first time, this guide pulls together what we could verify and tells you plainly what we could not.
How we built it: we checked the City of San Clemente's calendar, race and charity pages, and the restaurants' own sites where they would load. Some sites blocked our tools, and several 2026 details have not been announced. We mark those as unconfirmed, so call before you plan around them.
When is Thanksgiving, and what is happening that week?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Here is the week in one table, with how sure we are about each item.
| Date | What | Where | How sure are we? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 15 | 39th Annual Hunger Walk | San Clemente (check FAM for the route) | Listed on FAM's site. Confirm details |
| Mon, Nov 2 | Reservations open for The Fisherman's Thanksgiving, per a listing | The Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar | Page details looked old. Call to confirm |
| Wed, Nov 25 | Turkey Trot packet pickup, 12 to 6 p.m. | Dana Point Harbor, Dana Marina Plaza lot | Race Roster page |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Dana Point Turkey Trot, 7:00 a.m. 10K, 5Ks later in the morning | Dana Point Harbor | Race Roster page |
Is there a turkey trot near San Clemente?
The closest well-organized one is the [Dana Point Turkey Trot](https://raceroster.com/events/2026/112786/2026-dana-point-turkey-trot), held at Dana Point Harbor on Thanksgiving morning, about a 15 to 20 minute drive from San Clemente. We did not find a San Clemente-based trot for 2026, only an older virtual one.
| Distance | Start | Price (regular) |
|---|---|---|
| 10K | 7:00 a.m. | $54 |
| 5K race | 8:30 or 9:30 a.m. | $48 |
| 5K family walk/run | 10:00 a.m. | $48 |
| Combo (10K plus 5K) | 10K at 7:00, 5K at 8:30, 9:30 or 10:00 | $63 |
| Kids' 1-mile Gobble Wobble | Start time not listed | $25 |
| Virtual 5K | Do it anywhere | $45. Register by Nov 8 for a kit by Thanksgiving |
Packet pickup is on Wednesday, November 25 from noon to 6 p.m., and on race morning from 6 to 11 a.m., at the Dana Marina Plaza parking lot. The page lists race-day shuttles from 5:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and says registration is non-refundable. Prices and details can change, so check the page before you sign up.
A bigger option inland is the Turkey Trot on The Ranch at Rancho Mission Viejo, run by the Santa Margarita Water District, with a 10K, 5K and kids' 1K. A search result listed it for Thanksgiving 2026 with an 8:00 a.m. 10K and 8:30 a.m. 5K. We did not open the registration page, so confirm the details.
Thinking about living near the harbor, the coast or the hills? Alex can match you to a neighborhood that fits your routine. Explore the neighborhoods
Where can you eat Thanksgiving dinner in San Clemente?
Options are limited, and we want to be careful here, because restaurant hours and menus change. We could not find a confirmed list of San Clemente restaurants open on Thanksgiving 2026. These are leads to check by phone, not a recommendation list.
| Place | What we found | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar | A listing says it hosts an annual Thanksgiving feast, with reservations opening November 2, 2026 at 8 a.m. We could not open the restaurant's own site | Call to confirm the date, menu and price |
| Zov's (San Clemente location) | Does takeout holiday dinners with a choice of main, sides and bakery pies, ordered ahead by phone or email. Its holiday page currently shows Christmas, so 2026 Thanksgiving is not yet announced | Call (714) 838-8855, ext. 22, to ask about Thanksgiving |
| Restaurants on Avenida Del Mar | No confirmed Thanksgiving hours found | Call ahead. Many places close or run a limited menu |
If you want to cook but not shop, the easiest path is to pre-order a prepared dinner from a bakery or restaurant and pick it up on Wednesday. Order deadlines tend to fall in the middle of November, so start in the first week. The Orange County takeout list is updated regularly and is a good place to compare options.
How can you give back in San Clemente at Thanksgiving?
The main local organization is [Family Assistance Ministries (FAM)](https://www.lovefam.org/), an inter-faith nonprofit at 1000 Calle Cordillera, San Clemente, (949) 492-8477. Its site says it provided over 68,000 services in the past year, has more than 2,000 volunteers, including 1,300 from San Clemente, and that it serves food, housing support, counseling and income tax help.
FAM lists its 39th Annual Hunger Walk on Sunday, November 15. Its Thanksgiving feast at the Community Center has run for more than a decade; in 2017 it served more than 600 people, with local restaurants and volunteers helping, according to local coverage. We could not find 2026 feast details on FAM's site, so call or ask about volunteering and donations.
| How | What to do |
|---|---|
| Walk | Join the Hunger Walk on November 15. Check FAM for registration |
| Volunteer | FAM's site links to a volunteer page and a food drives page |
| Donate food or money | Ask FAM which items are needed most before you shop |
| Get help | FAM serves food and other needs. The 211 line is a free referral service |
Is Thanksgiving week a good time to buy a home?
It can be, and it is worth knowing why before you assume. Many buyers pause around the holidays, so some listings see less competition and some sellers are more flexible. That is a general pattern, not a promise, and it varies by price range and neighborhood. Check recent local data to see what is happening, and our market update explains how to read it.
Hosting Thanksgiving also shows you what a home is really like for a gathering: the kitchen flow, the table space, the yard and the parking. Our buying guide covers the process, and you can see what is on the market from Alex's San Clemente listing search.
Want to find a home with space for the holidays? Alex can show you neighborhoods and current listings that fit.
For more local events, see our guides to Halloween in San Clemente and Christmas lights and holiday events, and our guides to where to eat and the beaches. The City's events calendar is the official source for local events as they are announced.
Frequently asked questions about this topic
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Is there a turkey trot near San Clemente?
The Dana Point Turkey Trot is on November 26 at Dana Point Harbor, with a 10K at 7:00 a.m. and 5Ks later in the morning. Registration is on Race Roster. A Turkey Trot on The Ranch at Rancho Mission Viejo was also listed. We did not find a San Clemente-based trot for 2026.
Are restaurants open in San Clemente on Thanksgiving?
We could not confirm a list. A listing says The Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar hosts a Thanksgiving feast with reservations opening November 2, but call to confirm. Zov's does holiday takeout and its 2026 Thanksgiving details are not yet announced.
Does Family Assistance Ministries do a Thanksgiving feast?
FAM has hosted a Thanksgiving feast for more than a decade, but we could not find 2026 details. Its site lists a Hunger Walk on November 15. Call (949) 492-8477 to ask.
How can I volunteer in San Clemente at Thanksgiving?
FAM's site has volunteer and food drive pages. Ask which roles and items are needed before you commit.
Should I pre-order a Thanksgiving dinner?
If you want a prepared dinner, yes. Deadlines usually fall in mid-November, so ask early.
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Further reading
- City of San Clemente events calendar
- 2026 Dana Point Turkey Trot (Race Roster)
- Family Assistance Ministries (FAM)
- Thanksgiving Dinner To Go in Orange County 2026
- San Clemente Times on the FAM Thanksgiving feast (2017)
- San Clemente neighborhoods
- Where to eat in San Clemente
Figures are from the cited sources and change over time. Confirm current details with Alex or the MLS before making decisions.
