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Want to earn your Thanksgiving dinner? Essex County has four turkey trots on the calendar for 2026, starting with a Saturday 5K in South Mountain Reservation on November 21 and wrapping up with three races on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26.
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Two Towns Turkey Trot
- Town: Maplewood
- Where: South Mountain Reservation, Lollipop Loop on Crest Drive, near the Wildflower Sculpture Park and dog run
- When: Saturday, November 21, 2026; 5K at 10 a.m., kids fun run at 11 a.m.
- Cost: $25 pre-registration for the 5K, $30 on race day; $10 for the kids fun run
The Seth Boyden PTA presents this 5K and kids fun run on the Lollipop Loop. The start and finish are where Bear Lane and Crest Drive meet. Race day registration and packet pickup run from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., awards follow at about 10:50 a.m., and the kids fun run is roughly a quarter mile.
To get there, take South Orange Avenue west up the mountain toward Livingston and turn left into the reservation just past The Top apartment building. Parking is limited and roads close before the start, so organizers recommend carpooling. Online registration ends November 17.
Ashenfelter 8K Classic and Tom Fleming 2K
- Town: Glen Ridge
- Where: Glen Ridge High School, 200 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
- When: Thursday, November 26, 2026; 2K at 8:15 a.m., 8K at 9 a.m.
- Cost: $40 for the 8K and $30 for the 2K through November 14; prices rise after that
Glen Ridge’s Thanksgiving race honors two local running legends. The 8K is named for Horace Ashenfelter, who won the steeplechase at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, and the 2K honors Tom Fleming, winner of the 1973 and 1975 New York City Marathons. Proceeds benefit the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation.
The USATF certified 8K course is described as relatively flat, with two water stops through historic Glen Ridge. Packet pickup is in the high school gym on Wednesday, November 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on race morning from 7 a.m. Every 2K finisher gets a medal. The race runs rain or shine.
D&I Fitness Annual Turkey Trot
- Town: South Orange
- Where: D&I Fitness, 9 West South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079
- When: Thursday, November 26, 2026, 8 a.m.
- Cost: $30 for the 5K run or 2 mile walk; prices rise after November 13
Run the 5K or walk the 2 mile loop, starting and finishing in front of D&I Fitness in downtown South Orange. A percentage of proceeds goes to MEND, which supports a network of food pantries, and the gym is collecting peanut butter, tuna, shelf stable milk, cereal, rice and dry beans all month and on race day.
Packet pickup is at the gym on Monday, November 23 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday, November 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Race day registration runs from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. South Orange Avenue closes at 6 a.m. between Ridgewood Avenue and Sloan Street.
Brick City Run Club Turkey Trot
- Town: Newark
- Where: Military Park, 51 Park Place, Newark, NJ
- When: Thursday, November 26, 2026; check-in at 8 a.m., run and walk at 9 a.m.
- Cost: Free; registration required
The Brick City Run Club, the City of Newark and the Newark City Parks Foundation host this free Thanksgiving morning run and walk. Organizers stress it is not a race but a community celebration, with a Newark Community Mile, a Turbo Turkey 1-Mile and a Kids and Family Run. Every distance is one mile, and you can join more than one.
You must register and check in to take part. Bring nonperishable food or toiletries to donate. Parking is limited, so walking, carpooling or public transit is encouraged.
Once the running shoes come off, there is plenty more to do over the holiday weekend. Keep checking Shop Essex County for more happening around Essex County.
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