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Thanksgiving in Sussex County, NJ falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the long weekend is packed: turkey trots in Sparta and Vernon on Thanksgiving morning, buffets and holiday dinners at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg and Vernon, and a run of parades, holiday markets and light shows from Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29. Our team pulled every date, time and price below from each organizer’s own 2026 page, so you can plan the whole holiday weekend close to home.
Use this as your one-stop Thanksgiving planner. Start with the morning race, book your dinner seat now (popular seatings fill well before the holiday), then pick a Black Friday or Small Business Saturday outing for the family members who are still in town.
Thanksgiving 2026 in Sussex County at a glance
- What: Turkey trots, Thanksgiving buffets and dinners, plus holiday weekend events
- Where: Sparta, Vernon, Hamburg, Franklin, Newton, Augusta, Lafayette, Stillwater and Layton
- When: Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26, 2026; weekend events run November 27 to 29
- Cost: Races from $30, buffets from $69 per adult, and several weekend events are free
- Plan more: Our things to do in Sussex County this November guide covers the rest of the month
Thanksgiving morning: Sussex County turkey trots
Two local races get Thanksgiving Day started, and both finish early enough to get the turkey in the oven.
Sparta Education Foundation Turkey Trot presented by Krogh’s
The Sparta Education Foundation Turkey Trot starts and finishes at Krogh’s Restaurant and Brew Pub, 23 White Deer Plaza, Sparta, on Thursday, November 26, 2026. The 1 mile fun run starts at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K run and walk starts at 8:45 a.m. The 5K is $40 for adults and $35 for ages 17 and under; the 1 mile fun run is $30 for adults and $25 for ages 17 and under. Prices go up after November 24 at 11:59 p.m., and proceeds support the Sparta Education Foundation’s grants to Sparta Township public schools.
Vernon Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
The Vernon Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot is a 5K run by the Vernon Township Department of Recreation. Check-in opens at 7 a.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning at 68 Sandhill Road, Sussex. Individual entry is $30 and groups of four or more pay $25 per person before the mid-November price increase, and kids 10 and under run free. Proceeds benefit the Harvest House Community Lunch Program, and runners are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate. Costumes are welcome, since prizes go to the most fun feathers.
After the Sparta race, White Deer Plaza and the Lake Mohawk boardwalk are steps away. Our guide to where to eat and drink in Sparta has coffee and breakfast ideas, and our things to do in Vernon NJ guide covers the north end of the county.
Thanksgiving dinner in Sussex County
If you would rather skip the dishes this year, Crystal Springs Resort has the biggest Thanksgiving dining lineup in the county, with seven options across its Hamburg and Vernon properties on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Here is what the resort’s official Thanksgiving page lists:
- The Canyon at Minerals Hotel (Vernon): Buffet with seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. $75 ages 12 and up, $29 ages 4 to 11, free for ages 3 and under.
- Emerald Ballroom at Grand Cascades Lodge (Hamburg): Buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $85 ages 12 and up, $30 ages 4 to 11, free for ages 3 and under.
- Black Bear Golf Club (Franklin): Buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $69 ages 12 and up, $29 ages 4 to 11, free for ages 3 and under.
- Kites Restaurant at Minerals Hotel: Three-course Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 10 p.m. $60 per person, $30 ages 4 to 11.
- Crystal Tavern at Grand Cascades Lodge: Standard menu plus a Thanksgiving turkey option, noon to 10 p.m.
- Gino34 at Grand Cascades Lodge: Standard menu plus a Thanksgiving turkey option, 5 to 10 p.m.
- Restaurant Latour at Grand Cascades Lodge: Standard menu from 5 p.m.
Buffet prices are plus tax and an administrative charge, and the Kites dinner is plus tax and gratuity. Book online through the resort or call 877-600-9118. For menus and more detail, read our full guide to Crystal Springs Resort Thanksgiving 2026.
Other restaurants and Thanksgiving takeout
Many local restaurants post their Thanksgiving hours, prix fixe menus and takeout order deadlines in early to mid November, and some close for the day so their staff can be home with family. Our team recommends calling your favorite spot directly before you plan around it. Start with our best restaurants in Sussex County guide, and if you are cooking at home, our Sussex County farms guide is a good place to find local produce, eggs and baked goods for the table.
Black Friday, November 27: light show night
The Skylands Stadium Light Show and Christmas Village at 94 Championship Place in Augusta is closed on Thanksgiving Day but open Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the holiday weekend, November 27, 28 and 29, according to the stadium’s 2026 schedule. The season runs on select nights from November 21 to December 30. Standard tickets are $29 per carload and VIP is $79 per carload, and both must be bought online in advance for a set date and time slot. See our Skylands Stadium light show guide for the full calendar.
Friday is also a good day to start holiday shopping close to home. The Peters Valley Handmade Holiday Event fills the Peters Valley Gallery in Layton with handmade work from November 14 through December 31, 2026. Read more in our Peters Valley Handmade Holiday Event guide.
Small Business Saturday, November 28: parade, markets and comedy
Saturday, November 28, 2026 is the busiest day of the holiday weekend in Sussex County, and it is easy to string three or four stops together.
Newton Holiday Parade
The Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce brings its annual holiday parade to downtown Newton on Saturday, November 28, 2026. The chamber’s Newton Parades page says it can be viewed from Spring Street or Moran Street. Our Newton Holiday Parade 2026 guide has the details.
Christmas Village at The Shoppes at Lafayette
The Christmas Village at The Shoppes at Lafayette runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 75 Route 15 in Lafayette Township, with local vendors, photos with Santa and a tree lighting ceremony. It doubles as a Small Business Saturday celebration. See our Lafayette Christmas Village guide.
Fairview Fest Holiday Market
Fairview Fest at Fairview Lake YMCA Camps in Stillwater Township is a free holiday market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with local vendors, handmade goods and food and drinks for sale. Our Fairview Fest guide covers what to expect.
A night at the Newton Theatre
Wrap up Saturday with Big Apple Comedy Club #68 at the Newton Theatre (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.), or come back Sunday, November 29 for Twelve Twenty Four, a tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra (doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.), per the SKYPAC events list. The full lineup is in our Newton Theatre November 2026 guide.
Want more markets? Our Christmas markets in Sussex County guide lists every confirmed holiday market from early November through December, including the German Christmas Market at the Sussex County Fairgrounds the following weekend.
Our team’s tip for Thanksgiving weekend
Book the things that sell out first. Crystal Springs buffet seatings and Skylands light show time slots are reserved in advance, and the Sparta turkey trot price rises after November 24. Lock those in this week, then leave Saturday flexible for the free stuff: the Newton parade, Fairview Fest and the Lafayette Christmas Village are all within about a half hour of each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Black Friday is November 27 and Small Business Saturday is November 28.
Are there turkey trots in Sussex County, NJ?
Yes. Sparta’s turkey trot at Krogh’s in White Deer Plaza has a 1 mile fun run at 8:15 a.m. and a 5K at 8:45 a.m., and Vernon’s Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K starts at 8 a.m. Both are on Thanksgiving morning.
Where can I get Thanksgiving dinner in Sussex County?
Crystal Springs Resort offers buffets at The Canyon, the Emerald Ballroom and Black Bear Golf Club, a three-course dinner at Kites and turkey options at Crystal Tavern and Gino34. Reserve online or at 877-600-9118. Call other restaurants directly for their holiday hours.
Is the Skylands Stadium light show open on Thanksgiving?
No. The 2026 schedule shows it closed on Thursday, November 26 and open Friday through Sunday, November 27 to 29.
What is happening in Sussex County the Saturday after Thanksgiving?
On November 28, 2026 you can catch the Newton Holiday Parade, the Christmas Village at The Shoppes at Lafayette, Fairview Fest at Fairview Lake YMCA and a comedy night at the Newton Theatre.
Are any Thanksgiving weekend events free?
Yes. Watching the Newton Holiday Parade is free, Fairview Fest has free admission, and the Lafayette Christmas Village is free to walk around.
Primary sources: Sparta Turkey Trot on RunSignup, Vernon Turkey Trot on BikeSignup, Crystal Springs Resort Thanksgiving, Skylands Stadium Light Show, Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce, The Shoppes at Lafayette, Fairview Lake YMCA, SKYPAC and Peters Valley School of Craft. Dates and prices are as posted in October 2026; confirm with each organizer before you go.
Featured photo: Crystal Springs Resort via crystalgolfresort.com.
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