Gainesville's Turkey Trot Trail 5K and 10K is at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary. Entry is $30 or $40 until Nov. 12.

The Turkey Trot Trail 5K and 10K is a Thanksgiving morning trail race through Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, starting at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at 12626 NW County Road 231. Entry is $30 for the 5K and $40 for the 10K until Nov. 12, when prices go up.

Last checked 2026-11-05.

Upcoming dates

  • Thu. Nov. 26, 7 a.m.: registration and check-in open at the farm
  • Thu. Nov. 26, 8:30 a.m.: 5K and 10K start (both races run until 11:30 a.m.)

The race page calls it Gainesville’s annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. It is put on by Lloyd Clarke Sports in partnership with the sanctuary. Packet pickup time and place are still listed as to be decided.

Where it is and parking

The race is held at Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, 12626 NW County Road 231, northwest of Gainesville. The sanctuary is a 210-acre farm and wildlife preserve: about 125 acres of forest and natural springs are kept as a preserve, and the rest is home to rescued pigs, donkeys, cows and other farm animals. Runners pass the pastures along the way.

The organizer does not publish parking arrangements. Every runner, including those who register online, checks in at the registration table at the farm to collect a bib, so allow time on arrival.

Tickets and cost

Register on the race’s RunSignup page.

  • 5K trail: $30 until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, then higher.
  • 10K trail: $40 until 11:59 p.m. Nov. 12, then higher.
  • Race day: $50 at the farm until 8:15 a.m., without a T-shirt. Online sign-up stays open through race day.

Part of every entry goes to Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit founded in 2016 by Chris and Erin Amerman that rescues farm animals and teaches compassion toward them.

What to know

  • The course: a 3.1-mile loop through the sanctuary’s fields and forest, with open views of the pastures and some twisting single-track trail. The 10K is two laps of the same loop.
  • Food: the sanctuary is a vegan property, so all post-race food and drinks are free of animal products.
  • Awards: the race lists top-three male and female and masters awards in both distances.

For the rest of the holiday, including the Gobbler 5K and 10K two days later, closures and trash pickup changes, see our Thanksgiving in Gainesville guide. For more trail running, see our walking and biking trails guide, and for the month ahead, things to do this month.

Dates and venues as listed on the Visit Gainesville calendar and confirmed on the organizer’s site.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Gainesville turkey trot in 2026?

The Turkey Trot Trail 5K and 10K starts at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, at Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary. Check-in opens at 7 a.m.

Where is the Critter Creek turkey trot?

At Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, 12626 NW County Road 231, Gainesville.

How much is the Gainesville Turkey Trot Trail race?

The race page lists $30 for the 5K and $40 for the 10K until 11:59 p.m. Nov. 12, when prices go up. Race-day registration is $50 without a T-shirt.

Can I sign up on Thanksgiving morning?

Yes. Online registration stays open through race day, and race-day sign-up at the farm runs until 8:15 a.m. for $50, without a T-shirt.

Is the turkey trot course paved?

No. It is a 3.1-mile trail loop through the sanctuary’s fields and forest, with some single-track trail. The 10K is two laps.