ABOUT
Celebrated as one of the 20 Best Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots in America, the Turkey Trot is a Charlotte Thanksgiving tradition for the past 35 years. The largest road race in North Carolina with a record 10,258 participants in 2023 is a homecoming destination for extended families, old classmates, and a place to meet your neighbors. The community comes together to kick-off the holiday season with a healthy morning run or walk before heading home for food and family. Starting and finishing at SouthPark Mall, participants can choose from an 8K Run, a 5K Run/Walk, a 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and a 50-yard Tot Trot.
Registration opens 100 days prior to Thanksgiving - Tuesday August 20th with a special event at Suffolk Punch Brewery at SouthPark Mall. Register early for the best pricing and to ensure your spot. Registration will close when the event sells out or by Wednesday, November 27th.
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The CMPD Explorer’s Holiday Toy Drive is an important part of the Charlotte Turkey Trot tradition. We ask that you bring an unwrapped toy on race day as we kickoff this Christmas toy drive by gathering thousands of toys.
Please direct any race questions to info@cltturkeytrot.com and sponsorship questions directed to david@jesseysports.com. Follow us on FaceBook or Instagram.
THANKS FOR GIVING
BRING A TOY - Donation Drop-off Thanksgiving Morning!
THANKSGIVING - Gratitude and Giving
In the spirit of the holiday - the Turkey Trot embraces giving back to the Charlotte community. Partnering with Charlotte-based groups focused on helping those in need. Twenty percent of all sponsorship income is donated to the event's charity partners. Additionally, the event focuses on promoting the work of our community partners and being a catalyst for their growth – with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Holiday Toy Drive being our primary beneficiary.
CMPD Explorers Christmas Project in partnership with CPI Security, Queen City News, and K104.7 Beasley Radio Group
A synergistic partnership with our title sponsor and media partners – the Turkey Trot promoted and participated in the toy drive collecting hundreds of toys and making a cash donation of $20,000. The goal in 2024 and beyond is to supercharge the toy drive kick-off asking our 11,000 participants to drop a toy off at our Packet Pick-Up events and/or on Thanksgiving morning.
Our Volunteer Group Donations ($11,600 total)
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The Harvest Center of Charlotte theharvestcenter.org
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Charlotte Rescue Mission Dove’s Nest charlotteresuemission.org/dove-center
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Let Me Run charlotte.letmerun.org
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church Soup Kitchen saintmarkscharlotte.org/ministries/soup-kitchen
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Project Outpour projectoutpour.org
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Charlotte Country Day School Cross Country Team
Additionally, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina secondharvestmetrolina.org – Hilldrup moving company, will move all unused runner food and beverage provided by Harris Teeter to Second Harvest Food Bank immediately following the race.
RUNNER PERKS
CPI SECURITY 8K RUN & 5K RUN/WALK |
HARRIS TEETER 1MILE FUN RUN & TOT TROT
100+ AGE GROUP AWARDS
9 Packet Pickup Opportunities
FREE TOT TROT FOR KIDS 8 & UNDER
CPI Security Charlotte local school participation competition
Harris Teeter post run snacks
POST RACE BEER + Suffolk Punch Brewery OPEN Race morning
Next Level brand high quality long sleeve T-shirts
Pridemore Compass Costume Contest with Prizes
Suffolk Punch coffee café + Coffee trucks on-site
EVENT DETAILS
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SOLD OUT in 2023. Please register early for the best pricing and to ensure your spot.
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$5 discount off regular 8K/5K fees for participants age 18 and under.
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VIP Packet Pick Up is Saturday October 19 at SouthPark Mall center court area. 10am - 2pm.
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BRING an unwrapped toy to the race on Thanksgiving morning and help us brighten the holidays for thousands of local underprivileged children.
