Orange County Turkey Trots 2026

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Seven Orange County runs and walks happen that morning, from Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim, the closest to Villa Park, down to Dana Point Harbor. Races the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, plus other fall and holiday runs through New Year’s Day, are listed further down.

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots in Orange County

Plymouth Rock ‘n’ Run

Where: Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 10K at 7:00 a.m.; 5K at 8:00 a.m.; Kids 1K and 100-yard Tot Trot at 9:00 a.m. (the tot trot goes first)
Registration: 5K and 10K are $40 plus a $3.40 fee through November 3, then $45; Kids Run and Tot Trot are $15

Chip-timed 5K and 10K courses run along La Palma Avenue and the Santa Ana River Trail, and a finish-line festival follows with a costume contest, live music and food. Part of the proceeds goes to UC Irvine’s Reeve-Irvine Research Center for spinal cord injury research, which the race has supported since it started in 2008.

Turkey Trot OC 5K

Where: Village of Hope, 1 Hope Drive, Tustin, CA 92782
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 8:00 a.m.
Registration: $40 through November 21; $50 walk-up on race day
Packet pickup: Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24, 3:30–6:00 p.m., at 1 Hope Drive; race morning 6:30–7:30 a.m.

The Orange County Rescue Mission’s 13th annual 5K raises money for its programs for homeless families. Leashed dogs can run, and kids 5 and under, including those in strollers, don’t need to register.

Irvine/Orange County Turkey Trot

Where: Irvine Valley College, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 1-Mile Turkey Dash and Turkey Feast Combo at 7:30 a.m.; 5K at 8:00 a.m.; Kids Gobble Wobble at 9:10 a.m.
Packet pickup: Wednesday, November 25, noon–4:00 p.m., at Road Runner Sports, 24291 Avenida De La Carlota, Laguna Hills; race morning 6:15–7:30 a.m.

The 5K loops the perimeter of the college campus, and the Combo pairs the 1 mile with the 5K back to back. Finishers get a cast medal and a slice of pumpkin pie. A $5 parking pass is required on campus, dogs aren’t allowed on the course, and the race collects food donations for South County Outreach.

Dana Point Turkey Trot

Where: Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 10K at 7:00 a.m.; 5K at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.; 5K Walk the Trot at 10:00 a.m.; Kids’ 1-Mile Gobble Wobble (ages 2–12) at 10:30 a.m.
Packet pickup: Wednesday, November 25, noon–6:00 p.m., and race day 6:00–11:00 a.m., in the Dana Marina Plaza lot, 25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive

This is the 49th year for the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce race. The Combo 15K is the 10K plus any of the 5K waves, and there’s a costume contest at the start line at 9:00 a.m. Free race-day shuttles run from Dana Hills High School and the Costco in San Juan Capistrano. The 2026 charity partners are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and the RH Dana Elementary School Booster Club.

Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble

Where: Huntington Beach; enter at Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 5K/10K waves every 20 minutes from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.; Kids Fun Runs at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.
Registration: Ages 14 and up: $45 through October 31, $50 through November 22, $55 on race day; ages 13 and under: $20

Now in its 15th year, the Wobble raises money for clean-water wells overseas and has funded 60 so far. Dogs and strollers are welcome, and strollers start at the back.

Turkey Trot on the Ranch

Where: The Pavilion, 2 Tierno Road, Rancho Mission Viejo
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 10K at 8:00 a.m.; 5K at 8:30 a.m.; Little Gobblers 1K at 10:00 a.m.

The 10th annual race follows the paths and walkways of the Rancho Mission Viejo community, and proceeds benefit The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. It runs rain or shine.

Kindness Matters Walk

Where: 1275 N. Berkeley Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Starts: 8:00 a.m.
Registration: $20; $10 for ages 18 and under

A 5K walk in its 10th year, with an in-person walk in Fullerton or a virtual option. Proceeds support brain tumor research and youth leadership programs in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District.

Turkey Trots Before & After Thanksgiving

Seal Beach Turkey Trot

Where: 143 Main Street at Central Avenue, Seal Beach
When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Starts: 5K and 10K at 7:00 a.m.; Kids “Don’t Be a Turkey” 1K (ages 10 and under) at 8:45 a.m.
Packet pickup: Friday, November 20, 2:00–7:00 p.m., in the Hennessey’s Tavern parking lot

The 8th annual race starts and finishes on Main Street in front of Hennessey’s Tavern, heads past the pier and along Ocean Avenue, and also has a Gym Challenge. Registration is on Race Roster.

Anaheim Turkey Trot 5K/10K & Fun Run

Where: Santa Ana River Trail just north of Katella Avenue, 2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
When: Sunday, November 22, 2026

Caren Ware Events runs this 5K, 10K and 1-mile fun run on the paved river trail between Angel Stadium and the Honda Center, with pumpkin pie at the finish. Event parking is $10 in the Angel Stadium back lot.

Turkey Trot Sunday – Irvine

Where: Bill Barber Memorial Park, entrance off Harvard Avenue and Civic Center Plaza, Irvine
When: Sunday, November 29, 2026
Starts: 7:30 a.m.; bib pickup 6:45–7:30 a.m.

A Better World Running hosts 5K, 10K, 15K and half marathon distances on marked out-and-back loops of the park path. Parking in the park lots is free.

Other Fall & Holiday Runs

Dino Dash

Where: The Market Place, Tustin
When: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Starts: 15K Bike Tour at 6:30 a.m.; 5K Bike Tour at 6:45 a.m.; 10K at 7:00 a.m.; 5K at 8:00 a.m.; 2K Fun Run at 8:45 a.m.

Proceeds go to the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. The 5K and 10K are chip-timed, the bike tours aren’t timed, and race-day registrations don’t include a shirt.

Run Wild OC 5K

Where: OC Zoo, Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
When: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Starts: 7:30 a.m.
Packet pickup: Friday, November 6, 3:30–8:30 p.m., at Road Runner Sports, 13276 Jamboree Road, Irvine

The course goes through the OC Zoo, a few miles east of Villa Park, and runners get free zoo entry afterward. Proceeds benefit the Orange County Parks Foundation, and a costume contest follows at 9:30 a.m.

The Stuffing Shuffle

Where: Mile Square Park, parking lot D, Fountain Valley
When: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Starts: Half marathon at 8:00 a.m.; 5K and 10K at 8:30 a.m.

A pre-Thanksgiving 5K, 10K and half marathon on looped paths inside Mile Square Park. Parking is $5 per car.

Elf Yourself 5K

Where: Lake Forest Sports Park, 28000 Rancho Parkway, Lake Forest
When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Starts: 8:00 a.m.
Packet pickup: Friday, November 20, 3:00–6:00 p.m., at the Lake Forest Chamber office, 26239 Enterprise Court

The Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce’s flat 5K stays inside the sports park. Strollers and pets are welcome, there’s a pet costume parade, and the post-race expo has Santa photos and kids’ games. Enter the park from Portola Parkway.

Santa Claus for a Cause 5K/10K

Where: Bolsa Chica State Beach, Lot 25, 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
When: Saturday, December 12, 2026
Starts: Kids’ Ho Ho Ho Dashes at 8:00 a.m.; 5K and 10K at 8:30 a.m.

Runners pick a Santa suit, Santa beanie or race shirt, and the finisher medal doubles as an ornament. Proceeds support villages in Africa and Nepal and local health programs.

Run for a Claus

Where: Great Park, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
When: Saturday, December 19, 2026
Starts: Kids 1 Mile at 8:00 a.m.; 5K at 8:30 a.m.

The OC Marathon’s 13th annual holiday run has a 5K, a kids’ mile and virtual versions of both. Every runner gets a Santa hat and finisher medal, and proceeds benefit the Kids Run the OC Foundation and other charity partners.

Winter Whirl

Where: Mile Square Park, parking lot D, Fountain Valley
When: Saturday, December 19, 2026
Starts: Half marathon at 8:00 a.m.; 5K and 10K at 8:30 a.m.

A December 5K, 10K and half marathon on the Mile Square Park loops. Parking is $5 per car.

Run In The New Year 5K/10K/Half Marathon

Where: Bolsa Chica State Beach, Lot 25, 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
When: Friday, January 1, 2027
Starts: Half marathon at 8:30 a.m.; Kids Dash at 8:40 a.m.; 5K and 10K at 9:00 a.m.

A New Year’s Day run on the flat, paved state beach path with a live band at the start and finish. Early packet pickup is December 30 and 31 at Road Runner Sports in Costa Mesa.

Halloween Runs (2027 Dates TBD)

SoCal’s Sunset Trick or Trot 5K/10K

Where: Bolsa Chica State Beach, 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
When: TBD 2027

A Halloween run at sunset on the beach, with 5K and 10K distances and a youth half-mile Zombie Run.

OC Pumpkin Run 5K

Where: Juanita Cooke Trail, Fullerton
When: TBD 2027

OC United’s 5K run on the Juanita Cooke Trail, followed by a festival with local churches and community groups.

Monster Dash 5K – San Clemente

Where: San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente
When: TBD 2027

The City of San Clemente’s downtown costume run has a 5K and a 1-mile Creepy Crawl, followed by a pancake breakfast and costume contest.

Staying in town for the holiday? See Villa Park Marine Thanksgiving. For December plans, see Winter Holiday Events and the Villa Park Event Calendar.