The City of Durham is gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday, which officially gives most city operations a break come Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28. During this turkey-laden recess, residents should expect some disruptions to city services, as reported on the City of Durham website. City Hall and non-essential facilities will shutter for the holiday, urging the community to plan accordingly.
Trash bins will need to patiently wait an extra day, with Thursday's curbside collections for garbage, recycling, and yard waste rescheduled to Friday, November 28. To never miss to receive a collection day alert or a holiday service reminder, Durhamites are encouraged to visit the Environmental and Street Services Department's web page or to swiftly download the Durham Rollout app, custom-designed for such notifications.
Meanwhile, the city’s waste facilities, including the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and Household Hazardous Waste Center, will close for business on Thursday, November 27, with the anomaly of opening on Friday, before closing again on Saturday, November 29. Park goers should also note the Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) administrative offices and all facilities will be locked tight on November 27 and 28, but if you need to get a pre-feast workout in, the recreation centers will stay open until 6 p.m. on the eve of Thanksgiving. Anyone hungry for more DPR info should call 919-560-4355 or visit the department's web page during less festive, more operational hours.
Parking in the city will be less of a scavenger hunt ‒ as downtown parking turns free of charge on city-designated holidays like these. For those driving to holiday events, checking the $7 per vehicle rate and timing at Durham Centre Garage can be easily done by consulting the Special Event Parking Calendar online. Commuters who’d rather not navigate the turkey day traffic, GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS services will operate on a Sunday-level service, functioning from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. For the latest in transit updates, including detours and holiday schedules, the city pushes people to hit up 919-485-RIDE (7433), download the Transit App, or follow relevant updates on X.
For residents needing assistance, Durham One Call will pause operations on November 27 and 28, leaving the option to submit service requests via online, their smartphone app, by texting 919-813-6315, or leaving a voicemail at 919-560-1200. Water and sewer emergencies won't take a holiday, however, with the Water Management Department’s after-hours emergency number at 919-560-4344 ready to dispatch crews while most of the city gives thanks.
