Say you live south of Highway 30A in Rosemary Beach and need to pick up a relative in Panama City Beach on Thanksgiving morning. When is the last moment you can leave?
The answer is before 7 a.m. On Thursday, November 26, 2026, Highway 30A will be closed to all traffic from 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. The closure runs from East Water Street, at the race's start and finish line, east to the 10K turnaround at Bridge Lane, just past The Big Chill. The race FAQ gives a later end time of 11:00 a.m., so plan for the road to reopen somewhere between 10:30 and 11.
Nine days later, on Saturday, December 5, the Rosemary Beach Foundation fills the same streets with people walking between six decorated homes. The race starts and finishes at Barrett Square, and the tour checks in there. Both events happen on foot, and both raise money for Walton County nonprofits. On both days, getting around town on foot is most of the planning.
Thanksgiving Morning, by the Clock
This is the 15th year of the 30A 10K Thanksgiving Day Races, and three separate start times keep the highway closed most of the morning.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | 30A closes from East Water Street to Bridge Lane |
| 7:30 a.m. | 10K starts |
| 7:35 a.m. | 1-Mile Fun Run starts |
| 9:30 a.m. | 5K starts; Watersound Parkway also closed north to the Camp Creek Inn entrance |
| 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. | 30A reopens |
Because the 5K doesn't begin until 9:30, the road stays closed long after the 10K runners have finished. The 5K course also closes Watersound Parkway from 30A north to the Camp Creek Inn entrance. If you live or have guests staying near Watersound, that route is closed too.
Parking is limited. The race FAQ suggests parking north of Highway 98 at 30Avenue and walking in on the underground path. That gets you to the start line without your car ending up stuck behind the barricades until late morning.
The Day Before Matters More Than Race Day
There is no packet pickup on race day. Everyone picks up on Wednesday, November 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Big Chill, 7000 E County Hwy 30A in Watersound. If family is flying in Wednesday afternoon to run, someone in the house needs to make that trip during those seven hours.
You can't register on race day either. Fees are $95 for the 10K, $95 for the 5K and $45 for the 1-Mile Fun Run. The FAQ asks people to sign up early because the races are expected to sell out. Registration is on the race's registration page.
Here is what an entry includes, according to 30A.com's fall events guide:
- A commemorative race shirt and a custom finisher medal
- An awards ceremony after the races, with a DJ and local vendors
- Breakfast, plus a complimentary Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar for adults
The awards and post-race party take place on North Barrett Square. So the race finishes and celebrates in the middle of town, right where many neighbors would be heading for coffee anyway.
Where the Money Goes
The race series has given more than $1 million to nonprofits over its history. The 2026 charity partners are Children's Volunteer Health Network, Children in Crisis, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County and Bailey Brigade.
The Tour of Homes follows the same pattern on a smaller scale. Its 2026 proceeds go to Alaqua Animal Refuge and Caring & Sharing of South Walton. The event listing describes Alaqua as a no-kill animal shelter in Freeport. It says Caring & Sharing has served Walton County residents for 30 years and helps an average of 850 local families each month with financial assistance, food, counseling and case management. Between the two events, the two weekends support six local organizations.
Fueling Up Before the Barricades
The closure window lines up with Rosemary's early openers in a useful way. Amavida's café at 104 North Barrett Square opens daily at 6:30 a.m. That's half an hour before 30A closes and an hour before the 10K starts, on the same square where the race begins and ends.
Summer Kitchen Café posts daily hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., so it opens as the 10K runners set off. Cowgirl Kitchen lists breakfast, lunch and dinner daily starting at 8 a.m. Havana Beach Bar & Grill at The Pearl lists brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and says seasonal hours apply.
These are the restaurants' regular posted hours. Holiday hours can differ, so call ahead before you build Thanksgiving morning around any of them.
December 5: The Same Streets, Opened From the Inside
The Rosemary Beach Foundation's Holiday Tour of Homes is now in its eighth year. It's a self-guided walking tour of six homes decorated for the season. Check-in is at 78 N. Barrett Square, and the tour runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The town's own event page invites guests to "wander the streets and boardwalks at your own pace" and "gather ideas for your own mantel."
Here are the details from the Eventbrite ticket page for planning a household outing:
- Everyone 5 and older needs a ticket, and tickets are non-refundable.
- Advance tickets are encouraged because space is limited. Prices currently start at $28.52.
- The first 550 adult ticket holders get a 2026 commemorative cup, so arriving near 11 a.m. matters if you want one.
- Raffle tickets cover holiday décor and more from local merchants, and you don't need to be there to win.
Beyond this tour, the Foundation's charitable and educational work includes Music in Pictures, its arts program for schools.
Building the Tour Day Around the Tables
The tour opens at the same hour as the town's all-day lunch spot. La Crema lists daily hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. That makes it the easy midday stop between homes. If you'd rather start early, Summer Kitchen Café's 3 p.m. close leaves time for a late breakfast before check-in.
For dinner after the last home closes at 5, two of the town's evening rooms work differently. Restaurant Paradis takes online reservations and lists Friday and Saturday hours of 5 to 10 p.m. Edward's keeps the same weekend hours but does not take reservations. On a Saturday when hundreds of tour guests are walking the same streets, that difference decides whether you book now or put your name in when you arrive.
The Sunday in Between
The weekend between the two events still has its regular anchor. The 30A Farmers Market runs Sundays year-round from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 28 N. Barrett Square. That makes Sunday, November 29, a third morning on the same square, between the race finish and the tour check-in.
Mark these dates now:
- Wednesday, Nov. 25: packet pickup at The Big Chill, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 26: 30A closed from 7:00 to about 10:30 or 11 a.m.; post-race party on North Barrett Square
- Sunday, Nov. 29: 30A Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5: Holiday Tour of Homes, check-in at 78 N. Barrett Square, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At The Lauderdale Group, we plan our own holiday weeks around these Barrett Square mornings. If you're hosting family in Rosemary Beach this Thanksgiving and want help mapping out race-morning parking, a dinner plan for tour day, or any other part of life along 30A, request a personalized 30A consultation and we'll gladly help.
