The Nevada Turkey Trot Where Hundreds Of Families Start Thanksgiving Morning Together
The 2026 Turkey Trot course is a loop around a lake. Construction on a nearby boulevard even earned the race a new dress code.
Who knew road work could make a holiday race more fun?
The race is the 28th Annual Scheels Turkey Trot. It happens every Thanksgiving morning in Nevada, and the mascot is named Sir Stuffy.
The plan is so simple. Walk, jog, or stroll the loop, then head home to the turkey.
Why not start the holiday outside before the oven takes over? Few Nevada traditions feel this easygoing or this welcoming to little legs.
I can’t imagine a friendlier way to earn that second slice of pie. Can you?
So where does this loop happen, and what should you know before race day?
Lap Around The Lake, Then Pie
The 28th Annual Scheels Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving morning tradition in Sparks, Nevada. It has been described as one of the Reno area’s most beloved holiday customs.
The City of Sparks Parks and Recreation organizes it every year.
The next race is set for Thursday, November 26, 2026, with an 8:30 AM start. That gives you time to wake up, find your sneakers, and still make it home for the big meal.
The plan is to walk or run, then enjoy the rest of the holiday.
In 2026 the action moves to Sparks Marina Park. The start and finish sit at the Marina Park Pavilion at 800 Nichols Blvd. Past races used the Scheels parking lot instead, so this is a fresh setting for longtime fans.
Think of it as a warm-up for dinner. Nobody needs to chase a medal here.
The goal is to start the holiday outside, with people you like, before the oven takes over the day.
Meet The Park Behind The Pavilion
Sparks Marina Park is a city park built around a lake. Its Google description calls it an urban oasis for land and water sports.
The listing mentions fishing, boating, volleyball, a walking path, a dog park, and a picnic area.
The park sits at 300 Howard Dr, Sparks, NV 89434. Hours are listed as 6 AM to 10 PM every day of the week.
That means an early Thanksgiving arrival fits comfortably inside the schedule.
One reviewer described the lake as a former gravel pit that became a lake after a flood. That story is worth a quick check before you repeat it at dinner.
What is easy to see for yourself is a wide, open shoreline and plenty of room to spread out.
Sparks Marina Park also keeps its path in plain view. You can see the water the whole way around.
For a race built on a loop, that makes the setting hard to beat.
Two Miles, No Stopwatch
Here is the headline for 2026: the race is a 2-mile untimed walk or run around the marina. Untimed means nobody is staring at a clock.
You can move at whatever speed suits your crew.
The path itself is easy to like. Park visitors describe the loop as just under two miles, and some measure it a bit shorter.
Either way, it is a gentle outing, with water views nearly the whole way.
Want more miles? Organizers encourage extra laps around the marina loop to build your own custom distance.
Do one lap with the kids, then go again with your faster cousin.
The traditional 10K is on hold for 2026. The Sparks Boulevard widening project is the reason, and it is expected to continue soon.
So this year, the lake loop is the whole show, and it works nicely.
Hard Hats And Orange Vests Welcome
Costume time has a theme this year. To celebrate progress on the Sparks Boulevard construction, organizers invite everyone to wear construction-themed attire.
Prizes go to the most creative outfits.
That opens the door to some fun ideas. A hard hat is an easy start.
Add a safety vest, a toy toolbelt, or a handmade sign, and you are in the contest.
The event mascot is named Sir Stuffy. Yes, that is a turkey-flavored name, and it suits the holiday well.
Keep an eye out for him near the pavilion.
Families can turn the outfit into a team project the night before. Kids tend to love picking the props.
Just make sure the costume lets you walk comfortably for a couple of miles, since the course is long enough to notice a bad choice.
Strollers Are Encouraged, Dogs Are Not
Jogging strollers get a thumbs-up. The event is designed to be family-friendly, and organizers encourage strollers along the route.
That is a relief for parents with little ones who cannot walk two miles yet.
Pets follow a different rule. Dogs are not permitted on the course, except registered and licensed service dogs.
If your pup usually joins every outing, plan for a sitter that morning.
The park does have a dog park on other days, and many visitors mention walking their dogs on the path. That is a fine plan for a regular weekend.
For race day, though, the course is for people only.
The paved loop suits wheels well. Strollers roll along it without much fuss.
Bring layers for little riders, since a November morning in northern Nevada can start cold.
Pickup Day At Scheels
Scheels still plays a big role in the race. Shirt and event information pickup happens at the store.
Week-of registration takes place there too.
The window runs from November 23rd to November 25th, 9 am to 9 pm. That gives you three days to stop by.
Pick the one that fits your holiday week best.
Participants typically receive a commemorative long-sleeve souvenir shirt. Shirt sizes are not guaranteed, so earlier is smarter.
Waiting until the last evening could limit your choices.
Refreshments are also typically part of the post-race scene. Check the latest event page for details before race day.
Plans can shift, and the official listing always has the newest word.
Signing up early also saves stress on Thanksgiving morning. You can arrive, park, and head straight to the pavilion without a paperwork scramble.
Where To Park Before You Trot
Parking is simple to plan. Open parking is available at the marina.
Extra spaces sit next to Western Village along the marina pathway.
Arrive a little early. Hundreds of families may share the same morning, and the closest spots tend to go first.
A short walk along the pathway is a fine way to loosen up anyway.
The pavilion at 800 Nichols Blvd is your meeting point. Choose a landmark with your group before you leave the car.
A phone call on a crowded path is harder than a simple plan.
Restrooms are a regular feature in the park, and visitors often mention that they are clean and easy to find. A water fountain is also mentioned by park-goers.
Still, bring a warm layer and a small bag for your shirt.
Playgrounds And Sandy Beaches Beyond The Race
Once the race ends, the park still has plenty to offer. Visitors mention a playground with equipment for many ages and abilities.
Kids can burn off leftover energy before the big meal.
There are small sandy beaches along the shoreline. In summer, lifeguards are mentioned at designated swim areas.
Thanksgiving weather is another story, so plan for a stroll rather than a swim.
Fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking are also part of the park’s story. Non-motorized boating is allowed on the lake.
Those activities fit warmer days better, but they explain why the park stays busy through the year.
The Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza is another stop that visitors praise. It includes metal replicas of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
It makes a quiet, thoughtful pause on a holiday about gratitude.
Giving Back While You Get Moving
A turkey trot feels even better when it helps someone. In past years, a portion of the entry fees benefited Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful.
That group works on keeping the local area clean and cared for.
The park gives you an easy way to join in. Pick up after yourself, your kids, and your snacks.
Visitors have also reminded each other not to feed the ducks and other wildlife.
Wildlife is a big part of the setting. Birds and squirrels are regular sights around the marina, according to park-goers.
Respecting their space keeps the shoreline pleasant for the next family.
Thanksgiving is a good time to think about shared places. Hundreds of neighbors use this loop through the year.
Leaving it tidy is a small thank-you, and it takes almost no effort.
So lace up, bring the family, and enjoy the lap. Then go eat pie.
You earned it.