Detroit Turkey Trot

Registration Open
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Nov 26, 2026 at 7:30 AM

The Lowdown

The Detroit Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving morning tradition organized by The Parade Company, the group behind America's Thanksgiving Parade. Held for the 44th consecutive year in 2026, it starts and finishes at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) in downtown Detroit, drawing thousands of costumed runners and walkers who form what organizers call "the parade before the parade," cheered on by the largest spectator crowd in Michigan for a running event. The headline 10K starts at 7:30 a.m. alongside the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mashed Potato Mile, followed by the Stuffing Strut 5K at 8:30 a.m. The 10K has carried the Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3) title sponsorship for many years; the race is tracked here under its neutral, sponsor-independent name since staffing-company title sponsors can change year to year. Advance packet pickup runs November 14-21, 2026, with additional pickup at Huntington Place on November 25 and race morning. Strollers are welcome in the rear corrals, but pets and bikes are not permitted on course. Finishers wrap up in time to watch America's Thanksgiving Parade, which steps off later that morning through the same downtown streets.

Race Day

Weather Forecast

❄️
fall
cold

Elevation

Terrain Profile

⛰️

Relatively flat course

Participants

Field Size

🎊
15,000RUNNERS

Major marathon

Crowd Rating

Spectator Support

🔥
9/ 10

Legendary crowd support

Course Highlights
1

Huntington Place (Cobo Center)

2

Downtown Detroit

3

Detroit River waterfront

Race Weekend

Other distances available during the event weekend:

5K (3.1 miles / 5 km)
Destination

Detroit, Michigan, United States

US

Est. Hotel Cost
$140/ night

Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line

0
Time Limit
2 hours

Eligibility

  • No minimum age; young children asked to be accompanied by an adult
  • Strollers permitted only in rear/slower corrals; no pets or bikes on course

Required Documents

  • Photo ID for in-person packet pickup

Entry Methods

  • Online registration via RunSignUp / theparade.org
  • No race-day registration; advance registration and packet pickup required

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Entries are generally non-refundable and non-transferable per event policy; confirm current terms on the official registration page

44th annual running in 2026, making it one of the longest-running Thanksgiving Day races in the country

Immediately precedes America's Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Gardner White, through the same downtown Detroit streets

Organized by The Parade Company, a Detroit nonprofit

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