By 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, Scenic Highway 30A will be closed to all traffic from Barrett Square in Rosemary Beach to the 10K turnaround just east of The Big Chill. It stays closed until 11:00 a.m. At 7:30 a.m., the 15th Annual 30A 10K starts at Barrett Square, followed by a one-mile fun run five minutes later and a 5K at 9:30. The awards ceremony and post-race party are scheduled for North Barrett Square.
For anyone who lives on the east end of 30A, the race morning on Thursday is fixed. Everything that can still be planned comes earlier. Every to-go meal deadline nearby falls between November 22 and November 23. Pickups and race packet pickup land on Wednesday, November 25. Most of the sit-down Thanksgiving tables open at 11 a.m., the same time the organizer's FAQ says the road reopens.
What the Closure Actually Covers
The organizer's pages describe the closure as a corridor:
- Scenic Highway 30A, from East Water Street in Rosemary Beach west to Bridge Lane, just east of The Big Chill
- Watersound Parkway, from its intersection with 30A north to the Camp Creek Inn entrance, for the 5K route
- Hours: the course-map and schedule pages say 7:00 to 10:30 a.m., while the FAQ says 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.
The county paperwork adds detail. The roadway activities application filed with Walton County proposes a closure in stages. 30A between East and West Water Streets in Rosemary Beach would close at 6:00 a.m. The longer stretch from East Water Street to Bridge Lane would close at 7:00 a.m. The road would reopen gradually behind the last runners and fully by 11:00 a.m. The request went to the Board of County Commissioners on the consent agenda for its June 30, 2026 meeting. The county's agenda item report notes that the Outdoor Review Committee had conditionally approved the event, pending the Board's approval of the road closure.
In practice, the safe assumption is 6:00 a.m. inside Rosemary Beach itself and 11:00 a.m. for the full corridor. If you live along that stretch and need to leave the house Thursday morning, leave before 6, or go out by a route that avoids 30A.
Parking Points North, Across Highway 98
Parking is limited. The race recommends parking on the north side of Highway 98 at 30Avenue and walking into Rosemary Beach through the underground pedestrian path. That advice also matters for anyone just coming to watch. The organizer welcomes spectators and encourages runners to bring their own cheering section.
30Avenue also comes up in the dining plans below. Cuvee 30A is located there, and the restaurant describes 30Avenue as directly north of Rosemary Beach and less than five minutes away. On Thanksgiving, the same garage-and-tunnel route that serves race parking also connects to a lunch reservation.
The Real Deadlines Fall Sunday and Monday
The countdown, in order:
- Sunday, November 22, 3 p.m. Edward's stops taking Thanksgiving to-go orders, or sooner if supplies run out. Payment is due when you order, all sales are final, and your pickup slot is scheduled at the time of the order.
- Monday, November 23. Preorders close at Shades Bar & Grill in Inlet Beach for 14 to 16 lb house-smoked turkeys with a quart of giblet gravy. Each is $80 plus tax and feeds four to six, while supplies last.
- Tuesday and Wednesday, November 24 and 25. Shades turkey pickup runs 11 a.m. to midnight by arrangement at the restaurant.
- Wednesday, November 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Race packet pickup is at The Big Chill. There is no packet pickup on race day.
- Wednesday, November 25, 2 to 5 p.m. Edward's to-go pickup, in the window you were assigned.
The Edward's menu prices sliced oven-roasted turkey breast at $25 per pound and sliced honey-baked ham at $20 per pound. It also lists family-size sides, 32-ounce soups, sauces and gravy, rolls by the dozen, and pies. If one runner in the household is grabbing a packet and someone else is picking up dinner, Wednesday has a three-hour stretch, 2 to 5, when both windows are open at once.
According to the SoWal holiday roundup for Thanksgiving 2026, The Big Chill is also taking online Thanksgiving orders: smoked turkey, sides, pies, family meals or à la carte items. Pickup is Wednesday, November 25, or Thanksgiving morning. The listing doesn't give prices or an order deadline, so check before you count on it. Thanksgiving morning pickup is the one to think through carefully. The organizer places the race turnaround just east of The Big Chill, which puts the building at the edge of the closed corridor during race hours. Wednesday pickup avoids that question entirely.
Every Sit-Down Table Opens at or After 11 a.m.
Three restaurants near Rosemary Beach have published Thanksgiving Day seatings for 2026. Lined up against the road closure, the schedule makes sense.
| Restaurant | Location | Thursday hours | Adult price | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havana Beach Bar & Grill | The Pearl, Rosemary Beach | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | $85++ | $45++ for 12 and under; under 3 free |
| LaCo | Seacrest Beach | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $64.50 | $29.50 under 12; 3 and under free with a paying adult |
| Cuvee 30A | 30Avenue, Inlet Beach | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $99.99 | $49.99 under 10 |
Havana Beach Bar & Grill is the in-town option. The buffet spreads across the Main Dining Room, the Hemingway Room and the Ballroom, with traditional Thanksgiving dishes, coastal cuisine, prime rib and desserts. Reservations go through the restaurant and require a credit card. Cancellations within 72 hours carry a $50 fee, and a 22% gratuity is added. If you live inside Rosemary Beach, you can walk to the 11 a.m. opening, and by then the race crowd is mostly gone.
LaCo is serving a Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet at its Seacrest Beach location. Reservations are encouraged, and walk-ins depend on space. Its page lists the day as Thursday, Nov. 26 in the heading and Thursday, Nov. 27 in the description, so confirm the date with the restaurant when you book.
Cuvee 30A is serving Louisiana fried turkey and has the shortest window, closing at 3 p.m. Turkey to go is not available. Reservations are requested through its form and must be confirmed by email or phone with a valid credit card. Holiday cancellations within 72 hours cost $75 per person.
Every one of these tables opens at 11 a.m. or later, after the race traffic clears. Havana and Cuvee both charge cancellation fees inside 72 hours, which means a Thursday plan is effectively locked by Monday, November 23. That is the same day the Shades turkey preorders close.
Where the Race Money Goes
The 30A 10K Thanksgiving Day Race Series is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It has raised more than $1 million for its charity partners, and Southern Living named it one of the top 10 turkey trots in the South. The 2026 beneficiaries are Children in Crisis, Bailey Brigade, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County and Children's Volunteer Health Network. The county's agenda report lists the same four organizations.
Entry fees were $95 for the 10K or 5K and $45 for the one-mile fun run, with the 10K and 5K prices scheduled to rise after October 30. Fun run registration closes November 24 at 11:59 p.m. The 10K is open to ages 6 and up, and the 10K and 5K courses are USATF certified. Dogs are not allowed in any race. Strollers are allowed only in the one-mile run, starting behind all runners and walkers. There are no refunds. Registered runners get breakfast at the finish, a Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar for those 21 and older, a race shirt and a finisher medal.
The Weeks Before Look Normal Again
The lead-up to Thanksgiving follows Rosemary Beach's usual November pattern. Hurricane Isaias did not change it. WJHG reported on October 16 that restaurants, shops and hotels in Rosemary Beach were welcoming people back, and that The Pearl had reopened as early as the Sunday after the storm with minimal damage. At the time, about 8 of Walton County's 58 public beach accesses were still closed. The Pearl's October 22 update says beach services are running and guests can use the main Rosemary Beach boardwalk.
The 30A Farmers Market runs every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 28 N. Barrett Square. That puts the November 22 market the same morning as the Edward's order cutoff that afternoon. Rosemary Beach Uncorked is set for Saturday, November 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. at 48 S. Barrett Square. General admission was $225 and VIP $350. The official Uncorked site lists the event as sold out and offers a waitlist.
If you're spending Thanksgiving week at a Rosemary Beach or east 30A home you own, or thinking about one for next year, I can help with the details, from timing an arrival around the closure to lining up a closing that doesn't land on race week. Reach out to Albert Baeza and The A‑Team. Talk to Albert Now!
