Thanksgiving in Overland Park: Turkey Trots, Meals and Lights
Date Published
Thanksgiving in Overland Park, Kansas, centers on one big in-person race, the Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Family Stroll at the Aspiria campus, plus a short list of restaurants that publish holiday dinner or take-home meals on their own sites. The season-opening lights switch on around the holiday at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead and continue through the long weekend at Bluhawk and the Arboretum. We found no Thanksgiving parade in Overland Park, so don't plan around one.
The picks below are grouped by when they happen: Thursday morning, the meal, and the long weekend. Every one was checked against its own official page. Exact dates for the current year live in one section near the end, because dates change and the rest of this guide shouldn't.
How we chose
We kept only places and events inside Overland Park whose own official pages confirm they are active. We skipped restaurants whose Thanksgiving details we could only find on third-party roundups, and businesses whose addresses sit outside the city. Prices and hours change every year, so we describe what returns and point you to the official page for the current numbers.
Is there a Thanksgiving parade in Overland Park?
No. Visit Overland Park's annual events list shows the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Star Spangled Spectacular, but no Thanksgiving parade. The holiday here is a morning run, a family meal and then lights.
Thursday morning: where do you run on Thanksgiving in Overland Park?
The main Thanksgiving morning event is a 5K at the Aspiria campus, and one more race runs the Sunday before.
Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Family Stroll presented by T-Mobile
Where: Aspiria campus, 6240 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park. The race is usually held on Thanksgiving Day itself, in the morning, with a Kids Fun Run after the 5K. The official page at sportkc.org lists the event and links to registration on RunSignup, which also offers a virtual option. The family stroll format means you can walk it with kids or a stroller instead of racing. Register before the price-increase date shown on the official page.
Gobbler Grind
Where: Corporate Woods Office Park, 9401 Indian Creek Parkway, Overland Park. Gobbler Grind is usually held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, not on the holiday, and offers a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K. Packet pickup is the day before, at the DoubleTree on College Boulevard. Because the two races fall on different days, you can run Gobbler Grind on Sunday and walk the Thanksgiving 5K stroll on Thursday. Details are on the Gobbler Grind site.
The meal: where can you eat Thanksgiving dinner in Overland Park?
Stroud's, Garozzo's and J. Gilbert's confirm Thanksgiving Day service on their own sites, and Yaya's, Jack Stack and The Upper Crust Pie Bakery offer food you pick up. For more places to eat any day, see our food and dining listings.
Stroud's, 135th Street
Where: 8301 W 135th St, Overland Park. Stroud's runs a Thanksgiving Day buffet and a set of Ready to Heat and Hot & Ready carryout options through its online ordering. The restaurant's holidays page is where the buffet is announced. The buffet reservations fill up, and the holidays page offers a cancellation list you can join by email if you missed out.
Garozzo's, College Boulevard
Where: 9950 College Blvd, Overland Park. Garozzo's publishes a dedicated Thanksgiving page with a family-style dine-in feast of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, salad, bread and pie, plus carryout for two or four. The page lists an online order deadline a couple of days before the holiday, so decide early.
J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks, Metcalf Avenue
Where: 8901 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park. J. Gilbert's Overland Park page lists special Thanksgiving Day hours that run through the day rather than its usual dinner-only schedule, and mentions Thanksgiving Kits. The site labels this location Kansas City, but the address is in Overland Park. Call for the menu, since the official page doesn't spell it out.
Yaya's Euro Bistro, Prairiefire area
Where: 7021 W 135th St, Overland Park. Yaya's Overland Park site sells a Thanksgiving dinner at home that arrives fully cooked and ready to serve. Quantities are limited and pre-orders close ahead of the holiday. This is the pick if you want to host without cooking.
Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue, holiday catering
Where: pickup at the 135th and Antioch location, 9000 W 137th St, Overland Park. Jack Stack's holiday catering page offers meals that feed ten, including a spread with turkey and brisket, and asks for roughly a day and a half of notice. The kitchens are closed on Thanksgiving Day itself, so this is an order-ahead, pick-up-before-the-holiday option.
The Upper Crust Pie Bakery, Downtown Overland Park
Where: Downtown Overland Park, off Santa Fe Drive. The bakery's site takes Thanksgiving pre-orders and notes that they can sell out, so order well ahead. Orders need 48 hours of notice. Pair a pie pickup with a stroll through Downtown Overland Park.
The long weekend: what opens the holiday season?
Holiday lights switch on around Thanksgiving, and the Bluhawk tree lighting and Luminary Walk usually land the day after.
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Where: 13800 Switzer Rd, Overland Park. The Arts & Recreation Foundation's special events page lists Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane opening in late November, around Thanksgiving, and running through December 31. The farm itself is a seasonal attraction that closes after October, so the lights are the November draw. Check the city event page for hours and any cost.
Bright at Bluhawk Holiday Tree Lighting, Bluhawk
Where: 7951 W 160th St, Overland Park. Visit Overland Park's event page describes a free evening tree lighting at the Bluhawk District, near 159th and Antioch, on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Combine it with dinner and shopping in Bluhawk.
Luminary Walk, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Where: 8909 W 179th St, Overland Park. The Arboretum's Luminary Walk page shows the walk beginning the day after Thanksgiving and running select nights through late December. Tickets are bought in advance, and it has several formats: the traditional luminary walk, an adults-only candlelight stroll, a lights-only Electric Glow, and glow cart tours, which are the first to sell out. Ages 5 and under are free.
Mayor's Holiday Festival, Downtown Overland Park
Where: Clock Tower Landing, 7950 Marty St, Overland Park. Visit Overland Park's festival page describes the mayor leading the lighting of the Mayor's Christmas tree, plus a makers market, carolers, Santa photos, food trucks, and free kids' crafts and train rides. It can land the week before Thanksgiving, so check the dates below.
Volunteering: how can you help on Thanksgiving week?
Two Overland Park pantries list volunteer options on their own sites. Neither mentions Thanksgiving specifically, so ask about holiday needs.
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Overland Park Family Support Center
Where: 9806 W 87th St, Overland Park. The food pantry and office are open Monday to Thursday, and the Catholic Charities site links to volunteer and donate pages. Call ahead, since there is no voicemail.
Church of the Resurrection food pantry, Overland Park campus
Where: 8412 W 95th St, Overland Park. The pantry page lists volunteer shifts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for individuals and small groups aged 16 and up, with online registration.
Harvesters, the regional food bank, takes volunteers for sorting and packing, but its site lists the Kansas City, Missouri, warehouse and Lawrence, not an Overland Park site. See Harvesters if you will drive in. The Johnson County community food pantries list lists twelve pantries in Overland Park, these two included.
What is closed on Thanksgiving Day?
Plan for buses and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art to be off. RideKC's holiday page says there is no bus or Micro Transit service in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thanksgiving Day. The Nerman Museum is typically closed for the Johnson County Community College holiday break, which includes the holiday. Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead runs April through October, so the farm is closed, though its lights are on. We couldn't confirm Thanksgiving hours for Oak Park Mall, the Museum at Prairiefire or the Arboretum's garden from official pages, so call or check before you go. For weather on race morning, see our weather page.
This year's dates
These come from official pages and may change, so confirm before you go.
- Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26, 2026.
- Gobbler Grind: Sunday, November 22, 2026. Marathon and half marathon start at 7:30 AM, 10K and 5K at 8:00 AM.
- Thanksgiving Day 5K: Thursday, November 26, 2026. The 5K starts at 9:00 AM and the Kids Fun Run follows at 10 AM. RunSignup lists $40 in person, $30 for ages 12 and under.
- Mayor's Holiday Festival: Friday, November 20, 2026, 5 to 8 PM at Clock Tower Landing, with the tree lighting program from 5:30 to 6 PM.
- Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane: November 26 to December 31, 2026.
- Bright at Bluhawk tree lighting: Friday, November 27, 2026, 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
- Luminary Walk: select nights from November 27 to December 26, 2026. The traditional walk is $17. Glow cart tours are sold out.
- Nerman Museum: closed November 24 to 29, 2026.
- Garozzo's: dine-in feast $41.99 per person, carryout $57.99 for two or $110.50 for four, open 11 AM to 9 PM on Thanksgiving Day.
- J. Gilbert's: Thanksgiving Day hours 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM.
- Stroud's: Thanksgiving hours 10 AM to 5 PM; buffet reservations were sold out with a cancellation list.
Your Thanksgiving week checklist
- Sunday before: run or walk Gobbler Grind at Corporate Woods.
- Early November: pre-order pies and Yaya's dinner, and reserve any restaurant table; Jack Stack catering needs only 36 hours.
- Thursday morning: Thanksgiving Day 5K at Aspiria, then your meal.
- Thursday evening: Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane.
- Friday: Bright at Bluhawk tree lighting.
- The weekend after: book Luminary Walk tickets at the Arboretum.
- Any day: drop off or volunteer at a pantry.
For more events, see events and what's on this weekend.
Last verified: November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a turkey trot in Overland Park?
Yes. The Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Family Stroll presented by T-Mobile is held on Thanksgiving morning at the Aspiria campus, 6240 Sprint Parkway. Registration is on RunSignup, linked from sportkc.org.
Is there a Thanksgiving parade in Overland Park?
No. Visit Overland Park's annual events list has no Thanksgiving parade; the city's annual parade is the St. Patrick's Day Parade in March.
Which Overland Park restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinner?
Stroud's, Garozzo's and J. Gilbert's list Thanksgiving Day service on their own sites. Stroud's buffet reservations can sell out, so book early or join its cancellation list.
Can I order a Thanksgiving meal to go in Overland Park?
Yes. Garozzo's, Stroud's and Yaya's Euro Bistro publish take-home options, and Jack Stack offers holiday catering. Order days ahead, since deadlines come before the holiday.
Where can I see holiday lights after Thanksgiving in Overland Park?
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead in Overland Park opens in late November and runs through December 31. The Overland Park Arboretum's Luminary Walk usually begins the day after Thanksgiving, the same evening Bright at Bluhawk lights its tree.
Do buses run in Overland Park on Thanksgiving?
No. RideKC's holiday page lists no bus or Micro Transit service in Johnson County, Kansas, on Thanksgiving Day.