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One of the highlights of Thanksgiving Day each year is the running of the Turkey Trot in various cities around the country. They are very popular as people anticipating eating the large Thanksgiving feast run the race, usually a 5K, to burn off calories in advance of eating all that food. In researching this post, I was surprised to learn that here locally, in Buffalo, New York, we have the oldest and one of the most popular Turkey Trots in the country. Established in 1896, it not only is the oldest of its’ kind but also the oldest continually-running public footrace in North America. The Turkey Trot races usually are a fundraising event associated with some type of charity, and here in Buffalo they benefit the local YMCA.

Detroit and Dallas, which both host Thanksgiving Day NFL football games, also run Turkey Trot races, and Dallas boasts having the largest Thanksgiving race in the country. Berwick, PA has the annual Berwick Run For The Diamonds, a nine mile run established in 1908. Some other notable cities that hold Turkey Day races are Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Manasquan, New Jersey, Manchester, Connecticut, Andover, Massachusetts, and the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot held in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pictured below is by far the most unique Turkey Trot. Held in Cuero, Texas, which was named one of the “Coolest Small Towns In America”, it isn’t just a race but a race that is part of an entire November celebration known as Turkey Fest. Cuero is officially called the “turkey capital of the world”, and its’ annual festival includes not only the race but turkey calling and prettiest turkey contests, and a turkey toss. What sets Cuero’s turkey trot apart from the rest is that it’s not a foot race involving people, but a turkey trot using actual turkeys.