Over 200 participants signed up for W’burg’s Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

If you want to get in some exercise before filling up on turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day while also donating some money to a good cause, then keep reading.

A record 287 people signed up to participate in the 13th Annual Williamsburg Turkey Trot 5-K in 2019.

Following a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the 14^th Annual Williamsburg Turkey Trot 5-K run/walk will take place Thanksgiving morning.

In 2019, which was the last year that the Turkey Trot was held, a record 287 people signed up to participate in the Thanksgiving Day race.

As of Monday afternoon, 218 people had already pre-registered for the event with $11,000 having already been raised in sponsorships, said Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison.

Proceeds from the event go to benefit the Williamsburg Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program, which takes less fortunate children on $100 Christmas shopping sprees at Walmart.

Harrison said the goal is to help 150 children during Shop with a Cop this year, which is scheduled for Dec. 16.

The Turkey Trot will take place Thanksgiving Day. The entry fee is $25 for adults and $20 for students.

Race day registration begins at 8 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m.

The course begins and finishes at Bill Woods Park, which is located on Cumberland Avenue near the Whitley County Public Library.

Those, who are not interested in running, can still donate to the program.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Shop with a Cop program.

Make checks payable to Williamsburg Shop with a Cop and send them to Williamsburg City Hall, Attention: Gina Hamblin, P.O. Box 119, Williamsburg, KY 40769. Those needing a receipt should include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Also, for those wanting to get a little more into the Christmas spirit, the annual Williamsburg Christmas Craft Bazaar will take place from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center.

Harrison noted that the town Christmas Bazaar is normally held on the same day as the Christmas parade, but organizers decided to move it to earlier in the holiday season.

“We just thought it would be good to move it a little closer to Thanksgiving for the shopping number one,” Harrison noted.

The second reason is that it is difficult to get both the Christmas Bazaar and the Christmas Parade organized on the same day, Harrison added.

For table reservations, call (606) 549-0530.