How to Find a Turkey Trot Near You (and Run It With Your Crew)

To find a Turkey Trot near you, search "turkey trot" plus your town, or check race calendars like RunSignup and Running in the USA, and register early: popular ones sell out or raise prices as Thanksgiving gets closer. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. Most Turkey Trots are 5Ks (3.1 miles) held that morning, and plenty of people walk them.

What is a Turkey Trot?

A Turkey Trot is a fun run, usually a 5K, held on Thanksgiving morning. Thanksgiving is one of the biggest days of the year for running races in the U.S., and many Trots raise money for food banks or local charities. Expect families, strollers, dogs, costumes and a lot of people who otherwise never run.

How to find one

• Search "turkey trot [your town]" or "thanksgiving 5k near me".
• Check race calendars: RunSignup, Running in the USA and local running stores list most of them.
• Ask your run club or Y. Many host their own, and many are free or donation-only.
• Register early. Prices usually rise as the date gets closer, and shirts and medals are often guaranteed only for early sign-ups.

Running it as a group

1. Pick a pace for the group, not the fastest person. Walk, jog or run, but stay together. Speedier friends can loop back.
2. Register together, as a team if the race has team entries. It's often cheaper and you'll be listed together.
3. Match outfits. Turkey hats, pilgrim costumes and matching shirts are half the fun and make you easy to find in the crowd.
4. Meet early. Parking fills fast. Pick a spot near the start and arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the gun.
5. Plan the after. Coffee, breakfast or a group photo before everyone heads to family dinner.

New to running? You can still do it

Four weeks is enough to get ready to walk-run a 5K. Walk 30 minutes three times a week, then start mixing in one-minute jogs. Nobody at a Turkey Trot is judging your time; half the field is walking with a coffee. If you want company for the training too, join a local run club. Most welcome beginners. See how to actually meet people IRL.

What to wear on a cold Thanksgiving morning

• Dress for 15 to 20 degrees warmer than it is. You'll heat up after the first mile.
• Gloves and a hat you don't mind taking off and stuffing in a pocket.
• An old sweatshirt to wear at the start and drop or hand to a friend.