From Wednesday, November 25, through Sunday, November 29, Daytona International Speedway hosts two holiday events on the same five dates. The 53rd Daytona Turkey Run fills the daytime. Magic of Lights fills the evening. Both have adjusted their schedules this year, and the two changes cover exactly the same days.
For anyone at Latitude Margaritaville expecting guests over the holiday, that means the Speedway has something running from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. most of that week, with a gap in the late afternoon. Planning the visit comes down to deciding which part of the day you want.
The week, hour by hour
The Turkey Run's 2026 page lists its hours as Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Magic of Lights normally runs 6 to 10 p.m. nightly, but its ticketing page lists a 7 p.m. start for November 25 through 29 only.
| Date | Turkey Run | Magic of Lights | Gap between them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., Nov. 25 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 7 to 10 p.m. | 3 hours |
| Thu., Nov. 26, Thanksgiving | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 7 to 10 p.m. | 3 hours |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 7 to 10 p.m. | 3 hours |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 7 to 10 p.m. | 3 hours |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 7 to 10 p.m. | 5 hours |
Neither organizer explains the later light-show start, and the two events don't publish any joint plan. Still, the Magic of Lights exception lines up date for date with the Turkey Run. Starting December 1 the lights go back to 6 p.m. and run through January 2, 2027.
The Turkey Run starts a day earlier this year
Last year the 52nd Turkey Run ran Thursday through Sunday, November 27 to 30, 2025. The 2026 homepage labels its schedule "NEW THIS YEAR" and starts the show on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Daily hours are unchanged.
Sunday pricing has changed too. In 2025, adults paid $20 Thursday through Saturday and $15 on Sunday. For 2026, the organizer lists $20 per adult per day for all five days, Sunday included. Children 11 and under still get in free. Some tourism listings still show the old $15 Sunday rate. The organizer's page is the one to trust.
So Wednesday is the new day on the calendar, and Sunday is no longer the cheaper day. On top of that, Sunday is the shortest day, closing at 2 p.m.
What fills those daytime hours
The Turkey Run is a nonprofit show run jointly by the Daytona Beach Racing & Recreational Facilities District and the Daytona Beach Street Rods. The organizer says proceeds have passed twenty million dollars, all donated to local and national charities. It fills much of the Speedway infield. These are the main pieces listed for 2026:
- Show cars. More than 5,000 collector cars are advertised. When WESH covered last year's show, it described more than 6,000 cars in the infield.
- Swap meet. More than 2,000 vendors set up in the Speedway infield selling parts, accessories and memorabilia.
- Car Corral. Also in the infield, with more than 1,500 vehicles listed for sale or trade.
- Artisan Alley. A marketplace of handmade goods from more than 30 vendors.
- Hops & Hoods. Saturday, November 28, noon to 4 p.m., with 40-plus breweries pouring more than 120 beers.
That much ground is a lot to cover on foot in an eight-hour day. The Turkey Run FAQ sends anyone who wants a mobility scooter to Scooter Time and recommends reserving ahead, because walk-up availability isn't guaranteed. Free ADA shuttles run from the spectator entrance gates to the rental locations. The FAQ doesn't list scooter prices, and we didn't find a 2026 parking fee or gate assignment. Check both with the organizer before you go.
Turning the gap into a plan
Because of the gap, you can't drift from one event straight into the other. Each one is a separate trip. Here's how the two windows compare:
Daytime only. Wednesday is the new option, and families with Thanksgiving Day plans may find it easier than Friday or Saturday. Saturday is the only day with Hops & Hoods. Sunday gives you the fewest hours at the same $20 price.
Evening only. Magic of Lights charges one price per carload, so a car full of visiting relatives costs the same as a couple. The ticketing page lists these options:
- November visits. The page calls these the season's lowest prices, starting at $20. All five Turkey Run nights qualify.
- Santa Saver tickets. From $26.
- All-season tickets. $90.
- Limo and party bus tickets. Listed as available soon.
Gate tickets are sold only at the entrance on nights the show is open, and gate discounts apply Monday through Thursday only. Of the overlap nights, only Wednesday the 25th and Thanksgiving itself fall in that discount window. Friday through Sunday don't. Online tickets work once on any open night, so you can buy ahead without committing to a date.
The current listing promotes Holiday Barbie, Bigfoot and life-sized dinosaurs. It doesn't say whether any of them are new for 2026.
Both in one day. It works, but it means two trips with a three-hour break between them, or five hours on Sunday. A Wednesday or Thursday split pairs a $20 Turkey Run ticket with a weeknight eligible for the gate discount.
After Thanksgiving, the holiday events move downtown
Once the Turkey Run packs up, the Speedway keeps only the evening lights through January 2. Most other holiday events shift to the Riverfront Esplanade on Beach Street. Its current calendar lists these dates:
| Date | Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Mini Jingle Jam | Rose Garden, 255 S. Beach St. | 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 11 | Sleigh Bells & Cocktails | Riverfront Esplanade, 155 N. Beach St. | 6 to 9 p.m. |
| Wed., Dec. 16 | Howliday Pet Parade | 179 S. Beach St. | 6 to 7:30 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 18 | Holiday Movie in the Rose Garden | 255 S. Beach St. | 7 to 8:30 p.m. |
Sleigh Bells & Cocktails is in its second year. It used to be the Holiday Cocktail Stroll, and the 2026 listing includes seven cocktail tastings, a holiday bazaar and a new DJ-and-karaoke party. The Howliday Pet Parade is in its fifth year. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming presents it, and it supports the Halifax Humane Society. Hazen Construction presents the Rose Garden movie, but the title hasn't been announced yet. The calendar notes that more details are coming for several of these, so recheck them closer to the date.
A recent City Manager report says the city is planning its "Dashing Through the Decades" Christmas Parade for Saturday, December 12. The city hasn't posted the route or start time yet.
The car show returns in spring. The 37th Spring Daytona Turkey Run is listed for March 26 to 28, 2027, again at the Speedway.
If you're hosting guests over the holidays and they start asking about Florida's west-side neighborhoods, I can help with that question too. Geri Davis follows the Daytona calendar as closely as the market. Reach out anytime for a Free Market Snapshot of Latitude Margaritaville, or just to compare notes on which Turkey Run day you picked.
