Irvington Turkey Trot & Animal Food Drive

Irvington Turkey Trot & Animal Food Drive takes place at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. Two formats are offered: an 8-Mile (about 12.9 km) at 9:00 a.m. and a 5K (3.1 miles) at 9:15 a.m., and both can be run or walked. The course takes you through the Irving Las Colinas urban center and around Lake Carolyn, with several water stops along the way, and the finish leads into a party with food and entertainment. You get professional race photos, an event shirt, a bib and chip timing with live tracking. Founded in 2012, the event benefits the Irving Schools Foundation, supporting local education through meals, school supplies and scholarships, and it doubles as a food drive for animals.

The 8-mile format is an unusual and appealing option for Thanksgiving morning: long enough to reward a steady fall of training, short enough to finish before the meal. If you are coming off a half-marathon build, it is a natural place to test your fitness; otherwise, a weekly long run of 8 to 10 miles over the preceding six weeks is enough. The 5K suits families, walkers and first-time racers.