Thousands of runners will lace up Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26, for Detroit's annual Turkey Trot, a tradition that has kicked off Thanksgiving morning in the city for more than 40 years. This year's race lineup includes a 10K, a 5K and the Mashed Potato Mile, with many participants expected to turn out in costumes before the crowds settle in for the parade itself.
The Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot will once again kick off the America's Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Gardner White, on Nov. 26 in Detroit, according to ClickOnDetroit. This year's parade marks its 100th run down Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit on Thanksgiving morning, according to DBusiness, and the same report notes this year marks the 44th running of the S3 Turkey Trot, with registration having opened back on May 1.
Runners who still want in have options, and time is running short. Online registration for this year's Turkey Trot remains open through Nov. 23, unless the event sells out first, according to The Parade Company. Those who prefer to sign up in person can do so at Huntington Place on Nov. 25, from noon to 7 p.m.
Race Times, Routes and Finish Line Details
On Thanksgiving morning, the 10K and the Mashed Potato Mile both start at 7:30 a.m., while the 5K — officially called the Stuffing Strut — starts an hour later at 8:30 a.m., per the same organization's FAQ. The 10K and 5K both begin at Griswold and Fort Street, while the Mashed Potato Mile starts on Atwater behind Huntington Place. All three events share the same finish line on Atwater, behind Huntington Place and next to the Detroit River.
Timing varies by race: the 10K and 5K use B-tag timing, while the Mashed Potato Mile relies on clock timing, with runners noting their own start and finish times, the FAQ states. Organizers also set a hard cutoff — participants must clear the Woodward Avenue portion of the course by 9:10 a.m., and the finish line closes entirely at 10 a.m.
Packet Pickup and Parking Advice
Runners hoping to avoid race-morning lines can grab their packets early. Advance packet pickup is being offered at metro-area locations from Nov. 14 through Nov. 21, according to the same FAQ page, in addition to the Huntington Place pickup window on Nov. 25. Organizers are also urging participants to plan their mornings carefully, advising runners to arrive at their chosen parking lot no later than 6:15 a.m. on race day.
Two events that have appeared in past years, the Drumstick Double and the Cranberry Combo, will not return in 2026. The Parade Company says interest and participation in those events has been limited. Organizers also note the course itself isn't changing this year, though they caution that unexpected road work or construction in the city could force last-minute adjustments.
A Four-Decade Tradition on Woodward
Strategic Staffing Solutions has backed the race since 2015 and recently signed a five-year extension of its sponsorship, according to DBusiness, though the terms of that deal weren't disclosed. The race has long drawn a substantial crowd before the parade rolls through downtown: in 2019, the event logged about 16,000 entrants across its 1-mile, 5K and 10K races, according to former race director Doug Kurtis, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. That year's races ran along the parade route just ahead of the Thanksgiving Day procession, and race officials said entry-fee proceeds topped $100,000 for a donation to the Parade Company.
