The Ultimate Guide to the Lynchburg Turkey Trot 2026: Start a New Thanksgiving Tradition
Thanksgiving is about more than turkey and pumpkin pie. It's about gratitude, family, community, and giving back. Thousands of people across Central Virginia do this through the HumanKind Lynchburg Turkey Trot, presented by Scott Insurance.
Whether you're looking for a new Thanksgiving tradition, a fun family activity, another race to complete, or an opportunity to support a meaningful cause, the Lynchburg Turkey Trot offers something for everyone.
This guide covers everything you need to know about participating, volunteering, registration, race day, virtual options, and how your participation helps strengthen families across Virginia.
What Is the Lynchburg Turkey Trot?
The Lynchburg Turkey Trot is one of the region's most beloved Thanksgiving traditions. Hosted by HumanKind, the event brings together thousands of runners, walkers, families, friends, coworkers, and community supporters every Thanksgiving morning.
The race began in 1988 when Don Lucy, who grew up at Presbyterian Homes (now HumanKind), created the event as a way to give back and raise awareness for children, individuals, and families facing challenges throughout Virginia.
What started as a simple act of generosity has grown into a community-wide celebration that combines fitness, fun, and philanthropy. Today, the Turkey Trot continues to raise critical funds that help HumanKind build stability and remove barriers to financial opportunity for families.
Choose Your Turkey Trot Experience
In-Person Race:
Step 1: Register
Sign up and invite your friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, or community group to join your flock.
Step 2: Pick Up Your Packet
Participants can pick up race materials before Thanksgiving or choose to have them shipped directly to their home.
Friday, November 20 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, November 25 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
HumanKind Campus
1903 HumanKind Way
Lynchburg, VA 24503. Please note: Entrance is available from VES Road only.
Step 3: Race Day
Arrive Thanksgiving morning ready to run, jog, walk, laugh, and celebrate with your community.
Step 4: Celebrate
Cross the finish line, receive your commemorative finisher medal, take photos, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Step 5: Share Your Experience
Post your race day photos and tag HumanKind so we can celebrate with you.
Virtual Race:
Can't make it to Lynchburg on Thanksgiving morning? No problem.
The Virtual Turkey Trot allows participants to complete their race from anywhere between November 21 and November 29.
Popular Virtual Race Locations
Neighborhood sidewalks
Local parks and trails
Treadmills
Vacation destinations
College campuses
Military bases
Another state—or another country
How It Works
Register for the virtual event.
Receive your race packet by pickup or mail.
Complete your run or walk
November 21–29.Track your results using the free RaceJoy app.
Upload your results and celebrate your accomplishment.
Virtual participants receive the same commemorative race swag and finisher medal as in-person participants.
10 Turkey Trot Tips You’ll Want to Know
1. The earlier you register, the more you save! Register within the dates below to lock in that registration rate.
August 10 – August 31: $35
September 1 – October 11: $40
October 12 – November 8: $45
November 9 – November 25: $55
2. Friends & Family Discounts are automatically applied! Groups of 4–5 save $4 per registration, while groups of 6–10 save $6 per registration.
3. Awards and results vary depending on whether you participate in person or virtually.
In-Person Participants are professionally timed. Awards, which will be presented on Thanksgiving morning following the race, and can be picked up at the Awards & Customer Service Tent once official results are finalized.
Virtual Participants are not eligible for timed race awards. However, every registered participant receives a commemorative finisher medal.
Race results will be posted on HumanKind's website, HumanKind's Facebook page, and the official RunSignup race page.
4. The Turkey Trot welcomes runners, joggers, walkers, families with children, and participants of all fitness levels.
5. Solo participants are welcome. Many participants join on their own and quickly feel apart of their local community.
6. The Lynchburg Turkey Trot is a family friendly event! Families return year after year to make the Turkey Trot part of their Thanksgiving tradition.
7. We encourage you to wear Thanksgiving/fall/turkey costumes, festive outfits, matching family shirts, and creative holiday attire.
8. For safety reasons, pets are not permitted during the event.
9. Detailed parking instructions will be emailed to all registered in-person participants before race day.
10. We need volunteers this Turkey Trot! Volunteer opportunities are available the week before Thanksgiving, throughout Thanksgiving week, and on race day. Sign up at humankind.org/volunteer/.
Volunteers make a difference on race day — and beyond!
Every Step Makes a Difference
When you register for the Lynchburg Turkey Trot, you're doing more than participating in a race.
You're helping HumanKind support children, families, and individuals throughout Virginia by providing programs that build stability, create opportunity, and strengthen communities.
For nearly four decades, the Lynchburg Turkey Trot has brought people together around a simple idea: when a community shows up for one another, lives change.
This Thanksgiving, gather your flock, lace up your shoes, and join thousands of people who are choosing to run, walk, volunteer, and give back.
We'll see you at the starting line.