How Can We Help?
The Festival Foods Turkey Trot always takes place on Thanksgiving Day at a variety of locations throughout Wisconsin. We hope to answer any questions you may have here, but if you are still unsure, feel free to contact us.
Packet pickup will close at 7:30 on Thanksgiving morning in order to allow all Trotters the time to be ready for the 8:00 AM start at each community's start line.
A: The event will not be accepting cash payments. Please plan to bring your debit and/or credit card for any on-site purchases.
*Event accepts all major credit cards.
A: Proceeds from the event will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA in each community where it takes place.
A: Choose your location from the Event Info page and then click on the “Register Now” button to be redirected to the online registration page. Online registration is available through Thanksgiving morning until 7:30 a.m.
A: No, only the 5-Mile Run is a timed event.
A: Yes. The timed results from the 5-Mile Run will be posted on our website late afternoon on Thanksgiving Day.
A: Yes, you may walk the 5-Mile Run. However, you should only do so if you can maintain a pace of 18 minutes per mile or faster, and finish prior to 9:30 a.m. This cut-off time is established as a courtesy to our volunteers who have family obligations on the Thanksgiving holiday.
A: Strollers and wagons are permitted with restrictions — all participants with strollers or wagons must start at the back of each group to minimize tripping hazards. Competitive running with jog strollers is strongly discouraged and could jeopardize future access of stroller participants in this event.
A: No. You do not need to pay for a young child who is being pushed or pulled in a stroller or wagon. The only reason you might consider registering them is if you would like them to receive a shirt and pie — only paid participants will receive a pie and shirt.
A: No. The only “wheels” allowed on the race course are strollers or wagons for transporting the younger members of the family and wheelchairs. No bikes, no inline skates, no skateboards, no Big Wheels, no trikes, no exceptions. We do ask that anyone using acceptable wheels start at the back of their wave.
A: Dogs who are well socialized, non aggressive and up-to-date on vaccinations are welcome. All participants who bring a dog will start at approximately 8:15 a.m. or after all other participants have crossed the starting line.
A: Every start line is different depending on your location of choice, however each communities Dog Jog participants are requested to line up behind our 2-Mile participants. Visit your community page for specific details.
A: You may wear your music listening device, however, please keep the volume at a low enough level so that you can hear course officials and fellow participants. This is for your own safety and shows good running course etiquette!
A: There will be ONE fluid station serving water at the halfway point of the 5-Mile Run. There will be no fluid stations on the 2-Mile Walk/Fun Run. Water will be served at the finish line — if you require more fluids, please feel free to bring your own.
A: Yes. Each of the top five overall finishers (male and female) across the finish line for the 5-Mile Run will receive a $20 Festival Foods gift card handed out at the finish line. There will be no awards ceremony at the event. The 5-Mile Run will offer chip timed results that will be posted online late afternoon on Thanksgiving Day. There are no awards given for the 2-Mile events as they are not a timed event.
A: If you registered more than one person, you will receive a summary email including all registrants and then each individual registrant will also receive an email.