Vernon Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Vernon Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot is an annual holiday race in Lafayette Township, New Jersey, taking place on November 26, 2026. The event is put on by Vernon Township and offers one format, a 5K (3.1 miles), starting at 8:00 a.m. It is a classic small-town Thanksgiving morning run: a single distance, an early start, and a finish in time for the rest of the day.

Sussex County can be cold and blustery by late November, so plan for layers and a proper warm-up before the 8:00 a.m. start rather than standing still at the line. The 5K is ideal whether you are lining up for your first race or looking to run a solid time before winter. First-timers should focus on finishing comfortably, which three or four weeks of regular easy running will make possible; more experienced runners can treat it as a season-ender, holding back slightly in the first mile and pushing over the final kilometer. Either way, the distance is short enough that you will recover quickly and still enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner.