Ocracoke Island 5K Turkey Trot

Ocracoke Island 5K Turkey Trot takes place in Ocracoke, North Carolina, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. The 5K (3.1 miles) starts at 8:00 a.m. in Ocracoke village. This timed event welcomes runners, walkers, and strollers to enjoy the island setting, and every participant receives a commemorative t-shirt and medal. A virtual option is available for those who cannot be on the island in person, with the shirt and medal mailed directly to them.

An island 5K is a relaxed way to spend Thanksgiving morning, and the timing means you can still treat it as a proper race if you want to. A first-timer can be ready with six weeks of three easy runs a week; a regular runner can sharpen with a short interval session or two in the final weeks and then take it easy in the days before. The Outer Banks can be breezy in late November, so pack a light wind layer for the 8:00 a.m. start, and if you are running virtually, pick a flat, measured route and log your time.