Minnesota Turkey Trots 2026: Thanksgiving Day Races for the Whole Family

Get your family moving before the big Thanksgiving meal! Turkey trots have become a favorite Thanksgiving morning tradition in Minnesota, and there’s a race for everyone, from free kids’ dashes to scenic 10Ks around the lakes.

Here are the Minnesota turkey trots happening on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026. Many offer kids’ races, walking options and fun extras like donuts, pie raffles and finisher medals.

Turkey Trot Tips for Families

• Register early. Many races raise prices as race day gets closer, and some don’t offer race-day registration.
• Look for kids’ races. Several races have free or low-cost kids’ dashes.
• Plan for parking. Popular races fill up nearby lots fast, so arrive early or carpool.

Minneapolis Turkey Trots

Turkey Day 5K – Downtown Minneapolis

• Start: 8 am
• Distance: 5K (joggers, walkers and strollers welcome)
• Good to know: Kids 18 and under run Twin Cities In Motion events for free. Participants get free Metro Transit rides on race morning, and meter parking downtown is free on Thanksgiving morning. Prices increase closer to race day.

Turkey Day 5K details and registration

Drumstick Dash – Lake Harriet

• Start: 7:30 am (Cranberry Cruise Mile and Kids Half Mile), 8 am (10K and Pi Run)
• Distances: 10K, Pi Run (3.14 miles), 1-mile fun run and a kids’ half mile
• Good to know: Every child in the Kids Half Mile gets a medal, and parents can run with their kids for free. There’s a Family Team Challenge and post-race cookies. The race supports Mile in My Shoes. Registration closes November 24.

Drumstick Dash details and registration

St. Paul and East Metro Turkey Trots

Turkey Trot St. Paul – Upper Landing Park

• Start: 7:30 am (10K), 8 am (6K run and walk)
• Distances: 10K, 6K run, 6K walk, plus virtual 5K and 10K options
• Good to know: This 10th annual race benefits The Open Door food shelf. Virtual participants can run or walk anytime in November.

Turkey Trot St. Paul details and registration

Turkey Day Trail Trot – Battle Creek Regional Park, St. Paul

• Start: 8 am (10K), 9:30 am (5K and 3K kids run)
• Distances: 10K, 5K and a 3K kids run
• Good to know: This one is for trail lovers! The course mixes paved trail with cross-country ski trails on rolling terrain. Reduced pricing is available for runners 16 and under, and all runners get a long-sleeve shirt.

Turkey Day Trail Trot details and registration

Fast Before the Feast – White Bear Lake

• Start: 8:10 am (10K), 8:30 am (5K), 8:35 am (Turkey Dash)
• Distances: 10K, 5K and a half-mile Turkey Dash for kids
• Good to know: Held at White Bear Lake County Park. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome, and finishers get a medal, warm drinks and fresh pastries. Free race photos are included, and a portion of proceeds supports local hunger relief. Packet pickup is race day only.

Fast Before the Feast details and registration

Fox Trot Thanksgiving 5K – Stillwater

• Start: 8:30 am
• Distance: 5K
• Good to know: This race benefits Valley Outreach. Bring your old running shoes and athletic clothes to donate, and stick around for the post-race pie raffle with pies from a local baker. The price goes up after November 21.

Fox Trot Thanksgiving 5K details and registration

West and North Metro Turkey Trots

Tonka Turkey Trot – Minnetonka

• Location: Minnetonka High School
• Distances: 5K and the Turkey Scoot, a 100-meter dash for kids in the Tonka Dome
• Good to know: Turkey-themed costumes are encouraged! There’s music, a photo booth and snacks after the run. Proceeds support Minnetonka Track & Field and Cross Country, and you can add a donation to ICA Foodshelf when you register.

Tonka Turkey Trot details and registration

Wayzata Turkey Trot – Plymouth

• Start: 8:30 am at Wayzata High School
• Distance: 5K
• Good to know: This family-friendly race welcomes runners and walkers of all abilities. Every participant gets a stocking cap, plus music and post-race refreshments.

Wayzata Turkey Trot details and registration

Maple Grove Turkey Trot

• Start: 8 am at Central Park, Phenow Pavilion
• Good to know: This chip-timed race loops around the north pond and past Arbor Lake. Finishers get a medal, and all participants get a Turkey Trot winter hat. Parking is limited, so carpool or use the overflow parking at the Maple Grove library ramp. There’s no race-day registration.

Maple Grove Turkey Trot details and registration

Harvest Hustle – Blaine

• Start: 9 am (check-in begins at 8 am) at TPC Twin Cities
• Distance: 5K run or walk
• Good to know: Run or walk on a golf course! Runners loop around the front nine holes and walkers follow the cart path around the back nine. Participants get a swag bag and T-shirt, and coffee, water and morning snacks are served in the clubhouse. Bring a Toys for Tots gift to check-in to be entered in a prize drawing. Parking is limited, so carpool if you can.

Harvest Hustle details and registration

Chanhassen Turkey Trot

• Location: Chanhassen High School
• Distances: 5K run/walk (timed or untimed), a Kid’s Division 5K fun run for ages 11 and under, and a free Kids Dash for ages 8 and under
• Good to know: Everyone gets a donut at the finish line! Registration for the free Kids Dash closes November 25.

Chanhassen Turkey Trot details and registration

Greater Minnesota Turkey Trots

Northfield Rotary Turkey Trot

• Start: 9 am at the Weitz Center, Carleton College
• Distance: Chip-timed 5K run or walk
• Good to know: This Thanksgiving tradition is in its 26th year and draws over 1,000 participants. Leashed dogs and strollers are welcome. Register online by November 6 to guarantee a long-sleeve shirt. Proceeds support Rotary youth exchange, polio eradication and service projects.

Northfield Turkey Trot details and registration

Rochester Turkey Trot

• Location: Soldiers Field, Rochester
• Distances: 5K run, 5K untimed walk, a Kid’s Division 5K fun run for ages 11 and under, and a free 100-meter Kids Dash for ages 8 and under
• Good to know: Everyone gets a donut at the finish line!

Rochester Turkey Trot details and registration

Gobble Gallop – Duluth

• Start: 8:40 am (kids’ run), 9 am (Tough Turkey 1 Mile), 9:30 am (5K)
• Location: London Road at the Duluth Rose Garden
• Distances: 5K, 1 mile and a kids’ run

Gobble Gallop details and registration

More Thanksgiving Weekend Fun

Keep the family fun going all weekend! Head outside on Black Friday with Opt Outside on Black Friday events, or kick off the season at one of the Minnesota tree lighting celebrations – which will be updated soon!