Milwaukee Turkey Trot 5K & 8K

Milwaukee Turkey Trot 5K & 8K takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. All three formats start at 9:00 a.m.: an 8K run (about 5 miles), a 5K run/walk (3.1 miles), and a 5K walk for those who prefer to keep it easy. It is a festive holiday-morning event open to participants of all ages, and a good way to start the long weekend on an active note.

The 8K is the pick if you want something a bit longer than the standard 5K without stepping up to a 10K; it rewards controlled pacing over the first 2 miles. Six weeks of running three times a week, with a weekly run of 5 to 6 miles, is plenty for the 8K, and four to six weeks will do for the 5K. Late-November mornings by Lake Michigan are cold, so plan on layers, a warm-up jog, and a dry change of clothes for after the finish.