Turkey Trots and Holiday 5K Races in Ocean County NJ 2026

Lace up for a good cause this holiday season. Ocean County has a run for every stretch of the calendar, from a Pine Barrens turkey trot on Saturday, November 21, to a New Year’s Day 5K on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on Friday, January 1, 2027. Here are four local races worth signing up for now, with times, fees and what each one supports.

Thanks-For-Giving Turkey Trot

• Town: Manchester Township
• Where: America’s Keswick, 601 Route 530, Manchester Township
• When: Saturday, November 21, 2026, registration 8 a.m., race 9 a.m.
• Cost: $35 for the 5K run or the 1-mile walk

This trail-style turkey trot raises money for the Addiction Recovery Ministries at America’s Keswick, with a goal of $75,000. The course starts with a loop around the campus and the lower lake on a wide rock and gravel path, then follows orange trail markers into a narrower stretch of Pine Barrens woods. It is flat, but organizers ask runners to watch for large rocks and tree roots in the wooded sections.

Event details

River Rock ‘N Run 5K

• Town: Brick
• Where: River Rock Restaurant and Marina Bar, 1600 Route 70, Brick
• When: Sunday, November 22, 2026, bib pickup 8 a.m., race 9 a.m.
• Cost: $35 through November 8, then $40; relay team members $25 through November 8, then $30

The fifth annual River Rock ‘N Run is a scenic riverfront 5K on a two-loop course, and you can run it solo or split it with a partner in the relay. All proceeds go to Fulfill, the Monmouth and Ocean County food bank, just in time for Thanksgiving. Registration includes a post-race food spread, T-shirts are guaranteed only for the first 200 registered, and the field is capped at 250, so do not wait.

Event details

Toms River Police Foundation Jingle Bells 5K Run

• Town: Toms River
• Where: Starts at 101 Washington Street, downtown Toms River
• When: Sunday, December 6, 2026: Kiddie Dash 2:45 p.m., 1-mile run 3 p.m., 5K 3:30 p.m.
• Cost: 5K $35 through December 5, $45 on race day; 1 mile $20; Kiddie Dash free

Now in its 26th year, the Jingle Bells Run winds through downtown Toms River and nearby neighborhoods on a mostly flat course with a few hills. Festive holiday costumes are always welcome, which makes this one of the most fun races of the season to watch, too. Proceeds help fund scholarships for local high school students and support a spotlight local organization.

Registration is online only, with no processing fees. Shirts go to 5K runners, and sizes are guaranteed for those who register before November 19.

Event details

CopLine Run for the Call

• Town: Point Pleasant Beach
• Where: Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, 500 Boardwalk, with check-in on Arnold Avenue
• When: Friday, January 1, 2027, 10 a.m.
• Cost: 5K $45 through December 1, then $55; 1-mile walk $40 through December 1, then $50

Start the new year on the boardwalk at the 11th annual Run for the Call, a chip-timed 5K and 1-mile fun walk. The race supports CopLine, a confidential 24/7 hotline for active and retired law enforcement officers and their loved ones, staffed by retired officers trained in active listening. A virtual option is also available if you cannot make it to the shore on New Year’s Day.

Event details

Race Day Tips

Register early, since fees climb closer to race day and several races cap their fields or guarantee shirts only for early sign-ups. November and January mornings at the shore can be raw, so dress in layers you can shed, and plan to arrive early for parking near the start.

Looking for more ways to celebrate the season? Keep checking Shop Ocean County for holiday events, markets and things to do across Ocean County.

Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons