Springfield's Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

For a holiday focused on calorie intake, Springfield’s Thanksgiving Day Tradition offers an alternative: the Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk. You can start your Thanksgiving Day off at 8 a.m. in downtown Springfield for the annual 5K where you’ll not only earn your plate full of stuffing and mashed potatoes (and perhaps even seconds) but support the Springfield community.

The event’s proceeds benefit the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Youth Recreation Scholarship Fund.

Participants are also asked to bring five food items to donate to Ozarks Food Harvest, making this event the perfect way to focus on the true meaning of Thanksgiving, being thankful. Turkey Trot is one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s largest food drives of the year.

Participants can sign up for early bird online registration until November 17, $25 for adults and $20 for kids 12 years and under, because the full price registration goes up to $35 and $30. Each year those partaking in the race dress to the nines to win the Turkey Trot photo contest for largest group, best dressed individual, best dressed group and cutest dog.

Go to the Springfield Park Board site to register and find more information for the event.