Milford Turkey Trot

REGISTER FOR 2026 NOW!!! Join us down at Fowler Pavilion - 1 Shipyard Lane (behind the library) Join us for the 6th annual Milford Turkey Trot at 9:00 AM Thanksgiving morning along Gulf Street, Buckingham Ave and New Haven Ave in Milford, CT. All are welcome so please spread the word and make this an event to remember. 100% of the proceeds and website donations from the event go directly to local Milford, Connecticut charities: Milford Public Schools, Purple Pantry Boxes, and Avery's Little Army for Pediatric Cancer Support and Awareness. Feel free to run/walk alone, with your kids, with strollers, or even with your pets on leashes as all routes are on Milford sidewalks. No roads will be closed for this event, all street laws must be followed by participants at all times. It is not a race, it is a fun run/walk charity event, be safe at all times. This casual 3+ mile run/walk starting at FOWLER PAVILION behind the library, starts out heading up Shipyard Lane and then turns South on Gulf Street and goes all the way past Gulf Beach, making a turn left at Calf Pen Meadow heading Northwest on Buckingham Avenue, a turn near Jimmy's Apizza heading West on New Haven Avenue brings you back to Gulf Street and then completing the loop back down Shipyard Lane. If 3 miles is too far for you or your little ones, two shorter out and back options will be clearly marked heading the same direction to Gulf Beach. One is 1 mile total and the second going all the way to Gulf Beach is 2 miles. Both have sidewalks the entire way making it a wonderful run/walk for any age and ability. Virtual participants are also encouraged to join the fun remotely on Turkey Day. You can still support the great cause and get some exercise in before eating your Thanksgiving food by registering as a virtual participant regardless of where you will be on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers and sponsors are necessary for the event to be successful. If you can support in this front, please reach out to Tor at Tor.Blackstad@gmail.com with the email title including the words "Milford Turkey Trot". You can also sign up for an open volunteer slot here. Everyone that registers before November 3rd will receive a race shirt and race packet this year. We will do our best to accommodate late registrations but shirts are only guaranteed for people registered before November 3rd. Remember to bring your “shelf stable” food items for the Purple Pantry Boxes donation. PPB was voted best local cause by the citizens of Milford and awarded by the Milford City Chamber of Commerce multiple years in a row. All shelf stable food is appreciated but the most desired items include tuna, peanut butter, nuts, sardines, canned ham, soup, pasta, and cereal. With so many people coming together on Thanksgiving for this great event, we can really make a difference fighting hunger and food insecurity in Milford, supporting local families in need of a cure for the most challenging pediatric brain cancers, and for the Milford Public Schools community. Thank you for your support and looking forward to trotting with all of you. Early Packet Pickup Plans We encourage all participants to pick up their race shirts, bibs and packets early if possible. There are far too many people to manage the traffic on the morning of Thanksgiving. Below are the tentative different times we will have volunteers available to do the early pick up. This will all be confirmed via email closer to the event. Saturday the 22nd from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm @ TBD Sunday the 23rd from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm @ TBD Monday the 24th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm @ TBD Tuesday the 25th from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm @ TBD Wednesday the 26th from 4:30 to 7:00pm @ Turkey Trot HQ (31 Wilbar Ave, Milford) Sponsor Specials TBD TBD TBD Total Money Raised for Charity: $159k 2021: $8,000 2022: $20,000 2023: $38,000 2024: $45,000 2025: $48,000 We are a 100% volunteer organization and event. No money is paid to anyone for their work or time associated with the Milford Turkey Trot. Additionally, thanks to the sponsorships from local organizations and families, 100% of the participants race registration fees and donations have gone to our charity organizations our first three years. Please consider becoming a sponsor or spreading the word so we get more sponsors and can continue this incredible trend. Milford Turkey Trot in the News! https://patch.com/connecticut/milford/milford-turkey-trot-nears-30k-fundraising-goal-organizations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XFhRh2WYxk&ab_channel=DayDrinkingWithDog https://patch.com/connecticut/milford/milford-turkey-trot-hopes-raise-30k-charities https://www.milfordmirror.com/news/article/Runner-hopes-to-start-new-Thanksgiving-tradition-16582855.php 2022 Race Bibs Safety Note: No roads have been closed for this event. All participants are expected to stay on the sidewalks and follow all road laws at all times. This is not a race; this is a fun run/walk for charity. Please focus on safety first and have fun. Respect the community, people’s yards and the beautiful route we will all be enjoying. 2025 Event Sponsors: To become an event sponsor please reach out to Tor Blackstad @ Tor.Blackstad@Gmail.com or 408-569-5188 2024 Event Sponsors: 2023 Event Sponsors: 2022 Event Sponsors: 2021 Event Sponsors: COVID Safety Plan: Participants will start in waves based on the route length and the anticipated speed to ensure the fastest runners are in front followed by the slower walkers in back reducing potential contact between participants. There will be no on-site registration. No food or drink can be provided by the race so please be sure to bring your own source of nutrients and hydration if you anticipate these will be needed during the event. Hand sanitizer will be available free of charge for the community to use as needed. Please note that while our plan is to conduct the Turkey Trot in person, we are subject to the direction and authority of all State and local health authorities. Should the Federal Government, State of Connecticut, City of Milford or other heath authority issue any directive that such activities like the Turkey Trot cannot or should not move forward in person, the Turkey Trot reserves the right to alter the event to virtual with or without notice. Should the Turkey Trot alter to a virtual event, no refunds shall be provided to any runners or participants. Refund Policy: Entry fees and donations are NON-REFUNDABLE. Sorry, no exceptions. Once we receive and accept your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate or if the event is modified or canceled for any reason.