Totowa’s Thanksgiving-week running tradition returns on Nov. 22, as the borough’s Mayor and Council and Board of Recreation host the eighth annual Turkey Trot starting at 10 a.m. on Campus Road. The morning offers both a USATF-certified 5K and a family-friendly one-mile fun run, drawing runners, walkers and families out for a cause before the holiday.
The event is organized by Totowa’s Mayor and Council and Board of Recreation, according to the borough’s own event listing. Registration details and race logistics are handled through RunSignup, which confirms the race offers both the certified 5K and the one-mile fun run, along with timing access for participants. Finishers this year will also receive a special America 250 commemorative medal marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, per the same listing.
A Tradition Rooted in Community
As reported by TAPinto, the Turkey Trot has grown into a Thanksgiving tradition for Totowa and the surrounding Passaic Valley community, with Totowa Recreation Director Mark Monteyne saying the event began as an idea to bring the community together through a healthy Thanksgiving activity. Monteyne said families, friends and neighbors now create a tradition by running, walking, volunteering or cheering, and that the music, cheering and community atmosphere make the event special, according to TAPinto’s report.
Totowa Mayor John Corio has described the event’s growth over the years, telling News 12 New Jersey, “Each year it gets bigger and bigger.” A past News 12 report noted that for six years running, the Board of Recreation put on the Totowa Turkey Trot 5K race and walk, and that more than 1,200 people participated in a prior year’s run and walk — though that figure reflects an earlier edition of the event, not this year’s turnout.
Turkeys for a Paterson Shelter, Scholarships in a Coach's Memory
Beyond the race itself, the Turkey Trot highlights community individuals and causes and raises funds for those highlighted causes, per TAPinto’s reporting. The outlet reported that two scholarships established in the memory of Michael Grant, described as a runner, teacher and coach, will be presented at Passaic Valley High School’s graduation ceremony to help students pursue a college education. TAPinto also reported that the event has highlighted individuals including Viviana Gill, an 11-year-old battling a rare blood cancer, and Sofie Stokes, who is in remission from leukemia.
Runners can also pitch in for a local nonprofit on race day. Frozen turkeys collected at the event go to OASIS — A Haven for Women and Children, a Paterson nonprofit supporting women and children in need, according to the Borough of Totowa. The turkey drive isn’t new to the event — News 12 New Jersey reported that the Paterson-based organization held its turkey drive for a second straight year during a past running of the Trot, underscoring the race’s role as a community food drive as well as a fitness event.
Registration, Perks and Race-Day Details
Those looking to join can register online through RunSignup, as directed by the borough. In-person registration costs $35, while a virtual 5K option is priced at $30, according to RunSignup’s listing. Prices increase after 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 21, and in-person registration closes at 10 a.m. on race day, Nov. 22, the same source notes; virtual 5K registration closes at the same time.
Official long-sleeve race shirts are guaranteed to the first 1,000 registered participants, and all participants will have access to race timing, per RunSignup. TAPinto reported that registration for this year’s race had already topped 1,000 participants ahead of the event. With open registration still available through the morning of Nov. 22, Totowa’s running community — and the causes it supports — are set for another Thanksgiving-week turnout at 1 Campus Road.
