Thanksgiving Turkey Trots: 2019 Chicago-Area Races

ILLINOIS — Halloween is over, and before you start putting up your holiday decor, there's still one more celebration to get through: Thanksgiving. And as that family day of feasting approaches, many area organizations are gearing up for another tradition: the time-honored turkey trot.

With races before Thanksgiving — to help you work up an appetite — and races after Thanksgiving — to help you work off those amazing turkey day feasts — there are plenty to choose from. This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 28.

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Here's a roundup of some turkey trots happening in Chicagoland this November.

Cook County

Beverly Hills Turkey Trot

• When: Saturday, Nov. 30.
• What: The 11th annual event steps off from 9201 S. Hamilton St. in the tree-lined streets of Beverly. Proceeds benefit the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and the 19th Ward Youth Foundation.
• Cost: $35 individual registration, $75 per family. Children under age 19 can register for $30.

Grant Park Turkey Trot 5K and 10K

• When: Saturday, Nov. 30
• What: Run Chicago's lakefront during the 9th annual event, starting and finishing at Arvey Field in Grant Park, 1501 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Everyone gets a treat from Do-Rite Donuts at the finish line.
• Cost: $36.99 for the 5K until Nov. 13; $44.99 for the 10K until Nov. 13; $9.99 for the kids division fun run (ages 11 and younger).

42nd Annual Invisalign Turkey Trot Chicago 5K and 8K

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: Presented by Byline Bank, the event is back with the Turkey Day Run Chicago 5K/8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble kids race. Proceeds benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Centered around the Turkey Day Tailgate, runners will enjoy pre- and post-race activities like corn hole, football toss, turkey bowling and more while sipping on warm apple cider. Turkey and Thanksgiving costumes are highly encouraged but not required. The start line, finish line and Turkey Trot Tailgate are all centrally located along Cannon Drive, between Diversey and Fullerton Parkway.
• Cost: Fees vary.

Evanston Subaru Flying Turkey 5K

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: A chip-timed 5K presented by NorthShore University HealthSystem. Starts at Centennial Park, at Arrington Lagoon, at the corner of Sheridan Road and Church Street.
• Cost: $30 for the 5K run/walk (prices go up Nov. 5); $15 for kids ages 12 and younger for the 5K run/walk

Orland Park Turkey Trot

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: The 31st annual event is a 2.5-mile chip-timed cross-country race that takes runners and walkers through paved roads, paths and wooded areas of Orland Park starting at Franklin Loebe Recreation Center, 14650 S. Ravinia Ave.
• Cost: $26 for residents and $30 for non-residents. Registration available online.

Tall Trees Turkey Trot (Glenview)

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: The 23rd annual turkey trot 5K benefits Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, serving 2,500 children annually. Starts at Tall Trees Park, 1421 Sequoia Trail.
• Cost: $45 per individual; family packages available ranging from a family of three for $110 to a family of seven for $230.

Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 5K / 10K & 5K Fitness Walk

• When: Sunday, Nov. 24
• What: An event with five ways to register, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the parks and recreation scholarship fund, which helps local families in need with the costs for day camp and after-school program. Starts and finishes at Proesel Park, 7055 N. Kostner Ave.
• Cost: $37 for the chip-timed 5K race, 10K race and 5K fitness walk through Nov. 16 (price increases to $42); $17 for the drumstick dash through Nov. 16 (price increases to 19).

Palatine Park District Turkey Trot & Drumstick Dash

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: The 39th annual Thanksgiving Day event at Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road. Runners can choose from a two-mile race, five-mile race or 100-yard dash (for kids age 10 and younger only).
• Cost: Prices vary. Pre-race registration deadline is Nov. 21.

Winnetka Glencoe Turkey Trot

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: Begins at Hubbard Woods Train Station, 1065 Gage St. Includes a youth dash as well as a 5K.
• Cost: $40 for adults, $20 for those 18 and younger on race day

DuPage County

The Fox & The Turkey Races, Batavia

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: A chip-timed four-mile race starting and finishing on Houston Street near the Batavia Government Center and Peg Bond Center. Presented by the Fox River Trail Runners and Accelerators Youth Running Club. Also accepting non-perishable donations to the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry during registration and packet pickup.
• Cost: Fees vary depending on membership and food donation.

36th Annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot, Elmhurst

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: The event has raised more than $3.5 million for those in need in DuPage County over the years. Starts at Park Avenue & Adell Place, Elmhurst.
• Cost: Online registration is $35 until 5 p.m. Nov. 24. Then it's $40 until online registration closes at noon Nov. 27.

Naperville Noon Lions Turkey Trot 5K

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: Once again the turkey trot 5K steps off from Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville. The event has helped the Lions support 4,000 children and families in Naperville with vision and hearing care, as well as diabetes support since its first run in 1998.
• Cost: $40 for ages 15 and older; $28.17 for ages 10 to 14; $23.47 for ages 9 and younger.

Beat the Bird 5K Race, Oak Brook

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: Run the rolling hills of Fullersburg Woods, rain or shine, to benefit Chicago Hope Academy. Starts at Fullersburg Woods and Grau Mill.
• Cost: $45 through Nov. 27

Kane County

Harvest Christian Academy 7K Cross Country Challenge, Elgin

• When: Saturday, Nov. 16
• What: The first-ever 7K on the beautiful property at Harvest Christian, 1000 N. Randall Road, Elgin
• Cost: $35 through Nov. 9; $40 through Nov. 15; $45 race day

Saucony Big Timber XC Challenge, Elgin

• When: Sunday, Nov. 17 (rain or shine)
• What: An 8K (about 5 miles) hosted by Dick Pond Athletics and Saucony through the newly developed trails in Camp Big Timber on Big Timber Road in Elgin. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin and Boy Scouts of America Three Fires Council.
• Cost: $40 through Nov. 16; $45 on race day

Kendall County

Oswegoland Park District Gobbler Hobbler 10K & Mashed Potato Mile

• When: Sunday, Nov. 10
• What: A chip-timed run along the Fox River through scenic Oswego, beginning and ending at Fox Chase Elementary School, 260 Fox Chase Drive, Oswego.
• Cost: $55 for the 10K run, $29 for the mashed potato mile

Lake County

Grayslake Central Booster Club Turkey Trot

• When: Sunday, Nov. 24
• What: The 7th annual turkey trot hosted by the Grayslake Central High School Athletic Booster Club, starting at the school track, 400 N. Lake St. In coordination with the Turkey Trot, the boosters will also be doing a food drive to be donated to a local food pantry. Donations of non-perishable food donations and frozen turkeys will be accepted during packet pickup on Nov. 23 and on race day.
• Cost: $35 for adults, $20 for high school students, military, seniors (60 and older) and walkers, $15 for grade school students.

Long Grove Turkey Trot 5K and 8K

• When: Thursday, Nov.28
• What: The 11th annual race offers Apple Haus doughnuts at the finish, as well as beer and hot cider. Starts and ends at 308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove.
• Cost: $42.99 until Nov. 13 for the 5K; $49.99 until Nov. 13 for the 8K; $9.99 for the 5K kids division fun run for ages 11 and younger.

North Shore Turkey Trot

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: The 5K and 10K event kicks off at Park Avenue and St. Johns in the Eastside Metra parking lot in Highland Park.
• Cost: $44 for the 5K; $59 for the 10K. Prices increase starting Nov. 10.

Village of Gurnee Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: The 26th annual event includes a 5K run/walk to benefit the Jon Callaghan Memorial Fund and the Gurnee CommunityYouth Work Group. Proceeds go to help pediatric cancer research, School District 56, housing for those in need and other causes. Starts at the Gurnee Old Grand Ave. Fire Station, 4580 Old Grand Ave.
• Cost: $30 online through Nov. 21.

McHenry County

Hertz Trout Valley Turkey Trot

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: A historic 5K course through Trout Valley near Cary, at the Trout Valley Riverfront Lodge on River Drive. Proceeds benefit the Cary Grove Food Pantry and Trojan Track, Field & Cross Country Assocation. Runners are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation.
• Cost: $30 for the 5K (increases after Nov. 27) and $10 for the kids mile (increases after Nov. 27).

Henry's Thanksgiving Day Hustle 5K & Kids Dash

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: Race proceeds from Henry's Thanksgiving Day Hustle go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association's local chapter. Funds from this event are used by MDA to send children with muscle disease to summer camp and provide families affected by muscle disease with resources and funding to improve the lives of their children. Starts at Marlow Middle School, 9625 Haligus Road, Lake in the Hills
• Cost: $25 for the 5K run or walk; free for the kids dash.

McHenry Turkey Trot for Hospice

• When: Thursday, Nov. 28
• What: Features a 5K race and a 5K youth race. Registration ends at 2 p.m. Nov. 27. Starts and finishes at McHenry Community High School - East Campus, 1012 N. Green St., McHenry. The eighth annual race supports JourneyCare Hospice.
• Cost: $35 for the 5K; no charge for youth race.

Will County

Gobbler Gauntlet 5K, New Lenox

• When: Saturday, Nov. 23
• What: A race/walk with mostly flat ground and a few hills at the Sanctuary Golf Course, 485 Marley Road.
• Cost: $30 before Nov. 19 and $40 on race day