Asheville Turkey Trot

Asheville Turkey Trot is held in Asheville, North Carolina, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, with a 1-mile fun run at 8:30 AM and a 5K road race (3.1 miles) at 9:15 AM. This annual event supports MANNA FoodBank, which provides meals to people in need. Registration and bib pickup take place at Pack Square Park; the 5K starts on Woodfin Street and finishes at Pack Square Park. Registering early is recommended to be sure of receiving an event shirt.

Asheville's downtown is hilly, so treat the 5K as an effort-based race rather than a flat time trial, and save something for the climbs. The 45-minute gap between the mile and the 5K lets families do both, with the fun run doubling as a warm-up for the adults. If you are new to running, three or four weeks of easy runs will get you around comfortably; regular runners can use it as a sharp effort before the holiday meal, ideally with some hill strides in the preceding weeks.