St. Joseph Turkey Trot

St. Joseph Turkey Trot takes place in St. Joseph, Michigan, on November 26, 2026, with a 9:00 a.m. start on Thanksgiving morning. The single format is a 5K (3.1 miles) run/walk that starts and finishes at the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum. Along the way you pass local landmarks such as Silver Beach Pizza and the Carousel, and the course offers views of the town's notable beaches. Music, refreshments, and awards are part of the day, and the event is meant to build community spirit and grow into a local Thanksgiving tradition, much like other holiday races across Michigan.

A lakeshore 5K in late November can be windy, so if the breeze is up, tuck in behind other runners on the exposed sections and save your effort for the finish. The course suits both a relaxed family walk and a hard 3.1-mile effort for runners keeping their fitness through the winter. Six weeks of three easy runs per week, building one run to 30 minutes, is enough preparation for first-timers. Warm up before the 9:00 a.m. start and dress for cold, damp air near the water.