Tamarac’s Thanksgiving tradition returns for a 46th year with a 3.1-mile race before the turkey hits the table
Tamarac, Florida – Thanksgiving morning in Tamarac will begin with running shoes, race bibs and a 3.1-mile trip through the Woodmont area before many families ever reach the dinner table.
The City of Tamarac is preparing for the 46th Annual Tamarac Turkey Trot 5K, a long-running community tradition scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 a.m. The race will start and finish near Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave.
Registration remains open for the Thanksgiving Day event, but runners who plan to participate may want to secure a spot before prices rise or the race reaches capacity. The standard 5K registration is currently listed at $35, with 862 spots remaining. The price increases to $40 after Nov. 17.
Participants can register through the official RunSignup race page or find event information through Tamarac.gov/TurkeyTrot.
Online registration is scheduled to close at noon Nov. 25, unless the race sells out earlier. There will be no race-day registration.
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The 5K covers a USATF-certified, flat course with several turns through Tamarac’s Woodmont area. The route begins at 77th Street on Pine Island Road, heads east on 75th Street and north on 80th Street, then loops back toward Pine Island Road before heading south to the finish at City Hall.
Runners will be timed using the Chrono-Track system. Awards will go to the first three overall finishers based on gun time, while first-, second- and third-place finishers across multiple age divisions will receive trophies based on net time. Age groups range from 9 and younger through 75 and older.
Every finisher wearing a race bib will receive a commemorative medal. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 2,000 registered participants, although specific sizes are not guaranteed on race day.
Packet pickup will be available Nov. 23, 24 and 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Tamarac City Hall. Race-day packet pickup begins at 6:30 a.m., one hour before the start.
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Water stations will be positioned near the first- and second-mile markers, and food and refreshments will be provided to participants after the race. A medical team will also be on call, with staff at fluid stations able to contact medical personnel if assistance is needed.
Participants using strollers are asked to cross the starting line after the runners have gone through.
Parking will be available behind City Hall until the lot reaches capacity, with additional parking at the shopping plaza near Pine Island Road and McNab Road.
The event also carries a community fundraising component. Donations made during registration support the Parks and Recreation Foundation of Tamarac, helping fund youth program grants, scholarships, park equipment and recreation events.
For Tamarac, the Turkey Trot is designed as more than an early-morning race. After 46 editions, it remains a Thanksgiving tradition tied directly to the city’s parks, recreation programs and community life.
