Dawson Area Turkey Trot

Dawson Area Turkey Trot takes place in Dawson, Minnesota, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. The event is a single 5K (3.1 miles) that starts at 8:30 a.m., and its listed race name, Turkey Trot - Dawson Area Fundraiser, says a lot about its purpose: it is a community fundraiser first and a race second, bringing local runners and walkers together on the morning of the holiday.

For a small-town fundraiser trot, the emphasis is on showing up rather than on the clock, which makes it a good first race if you have never pinned on a bib. Four to six weeks of three short sessions per week, mixing walking and jogging, will get you to the finish comfortably. If you do run regularly, there is nothing stopping you from racing it: keep your mileage steady through November, add one weekly session of short, fast repeats, and take the final two days easy. With an 8:30 a.m. start, plan on a light breakfast a couple of hours beforehand and a 10-minute warm-up jog before the gun.