Fact Friday 457 - Charlotte's Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving Tradition
Photo: SouthPark Mall, where the Turkey Trot starts and finishes by HangingCurve, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Happy Friday!
Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away, and for thousands of Charlotteans the holiday starts in running shoes. Before the turkey goes in the oven, SouthPark fills up with runners, walkers, strollers and more than a few people dressed as pilgrims and turkeys for the CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot.
A Thanksgiving Morning Tradition Since 1989
The Turkey Trot has been around longer than a lot of the people who run it. The 2009 race was the 21st annual Turkey Trot, which puts the first one in 1989. This year's race, on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, will be the 38th.
The official 704 Shop x Turkey Trot Hoodie
It starts and finishes at SouthPark Mall, and there's a distance for everybody: an 8K, a 5K run or walk, a 1-mile fun run and a 50-yard Tot Trot for the littlest runners. The race even holds a costume contest, so expect plenty of turkeys and pilgrims at the start line.
From 4,000 Runners to More Than 12,000
In 2008, a then-record crowd of just over 4,000 people ran the Turkey Trot. A year later it was about 6,000. By 2022 the race topped 8,600 participants, and last year it set a new record with 12,223. Organizers call it the largest road race in North Carolina, and it regularly makes national lists of the best Thanksgiving turkey trots.
In 2022, CPI Security signed on as the race's first-ever title sponsor, and it became the CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot.
Running for a Good Cause
The race gives back, too. Samaritan's Feet, which provides new shoes for kids in the Charlotte region, is the lead beneficiary, and runners are asked to bring an unwrapped toy on race day for the CMPD Explorers' holiday toy drive.
We're proud to make the official Turkey Trot gear, and $7.04 from every purchase benefits the CMPD Explorers Christmas Project. Grab the 704 Shop x Turkey Trot Hat (Light Grey/Black), the 704 Shop x Turkey Trot Hoodie or the Turkey Trot Tracks Hoodie, or shop the whole Turkey Trot collection. Want it by race day? The hats are in stock and ship the same business day if you order before 2pm ET. Hoodies and crewnecks are made to order and take 7 to 10 business days, so order those soon.
More Fact Friday: Park and Rec Turns 50, The Carolina Thread Trail and 5 Things to Know About the Southern Christmas Show.
Sources:
- CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot: About
- CPI Security: The Charlotte Turkey Trot is now the CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot
- CPI Security: More than 8,600 people trot in 34th annual CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot
- Capitol Broadcasting: 21st annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day gobbles up record crowd
Holiday shopping? Find gifts for every Charlottean in the Charlotte Gift Guide, or see Hometown Gifts for anyone who misses home.
More stories from 704 Shop: Neighborhood of the Week, a new neighborhood every Tuesday.
