Thanksgiving Weekend at Snowshoe: Turkey Shoot, Turkey Trek, and the Tree Lighting

Thanksgiving weekend at Snowshoe is one of our favorite stretches of the whole year. The mountain wakes up from its quiet fall closure, the Village fills back in, and three different traditions stack up back to back over four days. If you are weighing a Thanksgiving weekend at Snowshoe, here is how the weekend actually unfolds, and how we plan around it ourselves with guests in our own homes.

What's happening over Thanksgiving weekend at Snowshoe

The long weekend opens with the Snowshoe Turkey Shoot, running Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday this year, November 26 to 27, 2026. It is the 11th annual running of this one, a goofy, feel good mountain tradition that welcomes seasoned shooters and total first timers alike. It also happens to line up perfectly with Winter Opening Day, which the resort has set for November 25, 2026, weather permitting. So in a good snow year, you could be making first turns on fresh corduroy the same week you are lining up a shot at the Turkey Shoot.

The morning after Thanksgiving, on November 27, 2026, the Turkey Trek 5k sends everyone up the mountain to walk or run off the stuffing. It is a mountaintop course, costumes are encouraged, and trail shoes are the smart move over sneakers. Families do this one together every year, kids included.

Then Saturday night, November 28, 2026, is the one a lot of our guests say they remember most: the Village Tree Lighting. The whole Village gathers, the lights come on, and the season officially starts with a hot cocoa in your hand. If you are bringing kids, this is the night they will talk about on the drive home.

Together, that is a Thursday through Saturday with a shooting competition, a 5k, and a tree lighting, plus whatever the mountain is doing with its first snow of the season. It is a lot to pack into one weekend, and that is exactly why we tell people to plan the drive and the dinner ahead of time rather than figuring it out once you're here.

Planning the drive up

Thanksgiving week traffic on the mountain roads is heavier than a normal weekend, between the holiday itself and Opening Day excitement. Give yourself extra time for the last stretch up the mountain, especially after dark, and check the mountain report before you leave so you know what the road and the summit look like that day. If snow is already flying for Opening Day, AWD or 4WD with good tread is the smart call.

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Thanksgiving dinner in your rental kitchen

One of the best parts of staying in one of our homes over Thanksgiving is that you are not stuck choosing between a crowded restaurant or driving a long way for groceries. Every one of our homes has a full kitchen, so plenty of our guests just cook Thanksgiving dinner right there between the Turkey Shoot and the Tree Lighting. Wildcat Grocery in the Village covers basics, but if you're hosting a real Thanksgiving spread, plan to stock up before you get to the mountain. Our groceries and gas guide breaks down exactly where to shop on the way in, what's available on the mountain itself, and what you'll want to grab ahead of time for a full holiday dinner.

Making the most of the weekend

A few things worth keeping in mind if you're building out your schedule:

• The Turkey Shoot runs Thursday and Friday, so you can do it before or after your Thanksgiving dinner itself.
• The Turkey Trek 5k is Friday morning, a good one to do before a big Thanksgiving leftovers lunch.
• The Tree Lighting is Saturday night, the natural capstone to the weekend.
• If Opening Day lands with snow on the ground, expect a Village buzzing with energy all weekend long.

For the rest of the winter calendar beyond Thanksgiving weekend, our events page has everything coming up on the mountain this season.

Where to stay for the weekend

Because this weekend mixes a shooting competition, a running race, and an evening Village event, we usually point guests toward homes that are either a short walk to the Village or easy to shuttle from. Several of our homes are a five minute walk to the Village, which makes getting to the Tree Lighting and back simple, especially with kids in tow after dark.

If your weekend plans include some apres by the fire after the Turkey Trek, a private hot tub is hard to beat. If you're not familiar with our homes yet, start with the full lineup at /homes to see which layout fits your group and your plans for the weekend.

Whatever you have planned for the Turkey Shoot, the Turkey Trek 5k, or the Tree Lighting, we would love to host your Thanksgiving weekend at Snowshoe. Browse our homes and book direct at /book-direct to skip the platform booking fee and get in touch with us directly as you plan the trip.