Orange City’s Annual Turkey Trot is coming to town Thanksgiving morning. The event serves as a kickoff to Thanksgiving Day by giving participants the opportunity to run or walk a 5k.
Turkey Trot Races have been tradition across the country since the late 1800s, and there are nearly a million races that take place every year on Thanksgiving. Orange City is no different and has had their own race hosted by Trinity Reformed Church for the past several years. This laid-back race is sure to stir up hunger for Thanksgiving feasts and preemptively ward off food comas.
The course is a rolling single loop starting at Trinity and going along 2nd Street past the Orange City Pool. It then loops north via Frankfort Avenue up to 7th Street, where it heads east and loops down by the golf course through the cul-de-sac where Northwestern’s President Greg Christy lives. Finally, it runs south via St. Paul Avenue before concluding at Trinity Reformed Church.
Past races have included strollers, dogs, kids and adults of all ages. As a fun twist, this 5k race also encourages participants to wear costumes, and many, of course, turn out to be turkeys.
The purpose of the event is not to competitively race (although the race is timed), but rather to offer a fun start to Thanksgiving while raising money and awareness for a mission. This year’s mission is Hunger Free Kids of Sioux County, and the mission partner is Trinity Youth Ministries.
According to their website, Hunger Free Kids of Sioux County serves to “provide local support for local efforts and innovations to ensure all children in Sioux County receive adequate nutrition to thrive. Hunger Free Kids of Sioux County funds Sack Pack programs in local Sioux County schools and supports other community efforts that feed food insecure children and families.”
The organization was formed in 2013 by a variety of groups aiming to lower childhood hunger in Sioux County. Events they put on include Free Will Dinner and Auction, Tailgate, Tip Night and the Sack Pack program.
Overall, the Sack Pack program reaches Sioux Center, West Sioux, Boyden-Hull and MOC-Floyd Valley schools. Last year, over $3500 was raised through the Turkey Trot. Organizers this year hope to raise even more money for their mission partner.
In addition to the 5k, a community worship service will be held by Living Water Community Church and Trinity Reformed Church in conjunction with the event. The service will take place at Trinity, Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
The 5k begins at 7:45am on Thanksgiving Day and will be followed by post-race refreshments in the lobby of Trinity. To conclude the day’s festivites, a community Thanksgiving meal will be held at Living Water.
Registration for the 5k is still open and the cost is $32. The registration price also includes a t-shirt and refreshments before and after the race. Both the Thanksgiving Eve worship at Trinity and Thanksgiving meal at Living Water are open to the public.
