Pine Knoll Shores Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk & 1.5 Mile Dog Stroll

Join us for the 19th annual Pine Knoll Shores Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2026 at 8:30 AM. The 5K Run & Dog Stroll are free run or walk events, and all are welcome. The Turkey Trot is also charitable event that supports the Hope for the Warriors Angel Tree Project. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation! We would greatly appreciate it!

REGISTRATION*

Online registration is available through midnight on November 25 or you can register in person Wednesday, November 25, from 3:00-4:00 PM at McNeil Park or Thanksgiving morning, November 26, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at McNeill Park that serves as the starting location for the event. No registrations will be taken after 8:00 AM on race day.

You can register for either:

• The 5K (3.1 mile) run or walk passes through the streets of Pine Knoll Shores and the Crystal Coast Country Club golf course (no strollers or dogs will be allowed),

• The 1.5-mile dog stroll will traverse the streets of Pine Knoll Shores. (No entry will be allowed on the Golf Course with pets or strollers).

• See the links on the event website for maps of both the 5K and Dog Stroll. The courses are different.

The 5K Run/Walk begins at 8:30 AM followed immediately by the Dog Stroll at 8:35 AM.

When you register for either event you may order and pay for a PKS Turkey Trot T-shirt, and you will also be eligible for prizes. Participants can pick up any ordered shirts either Wednesday, November 25, 3:00-4:00 PM at McNeil Park or Thanksgiving morning at McNeil Park pavilion. If you are not entering the event and would still like to purchase a T-Shirt, you may order directly from the STORE on this website. [No more t-shirt orders will be taken after November 12.

Additional Event Information

For all event information, see the EVENT INFO page for specific details about the 5K run/walk or 1.5 Mile Dog Stroll.

• At the finish line there will be water, bananas, and treats for everyone.

• Random drawing for prizes for tickets to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and other prizes courtesy of the AB Ice Cream & Candy Shoppe, and BattleWorks (Atlantic Beach).

The Turkey Trot is sponsored by the Town of Pine Knoll Shores Parks and Recreation Committee and will occur rain or shine!

*Please note that attendance is limited to 400 registrations to make sure our Public Safety team can manage the overwhelming response to our event.

COURSE MAP BELOW

The race/walk begins and ends at McNeil Park.

START LINE: McNeil Park Bridge

From the bridge turn RIGHT turn onto Cedar Rd.

Cedar Road make LEFT turn onto Cypress Dr.

Cypress Dr. make LEFT turn onto Holly Rd.

Holly Rd. make Right turn onto Oakleaf Dr.

Oakleaf Dr. make Right turn onto Willow Rd.

Willow Rd. make LEFT turn onto Cypress Dr.

Cypress Dr. make LEFT turn onto Yaupon Rd.

Yaupon Rd. make RIGHT turn onto Oakleaf Dr.

Oakleaf Dr. make LEFT Turn into the Crystal Coast Country Club (CCCC) Parking Lot

CCCC Parking Lot ... Follow signs past the Club House and pick up course near the tenth (10th) tee along the golf cart path (10th and 11th fairways).

CCCC Golf Course route ... follow all signs. The course runs along the cart paths as well as through fairways (you will make a left turn at a sand trap along the 12th fairway crossing the 12th and 13th fairways and making a right turn heading SOUTH along the 14th fairway).

Continue following the CCCC cart path until the intersection with Oakleaf Drive - There will be course monitors and police to make sure traffic is clear.

CROSS Oakleaf Dr. and continue along the CCCC golf course cart path again (running parallel to the 16th and 17th fairways). 

Follow all signs along the golf cart path. You will cross a small, cart path bridge onto another fairway (the 18th).

Leave the CCCC course by crossing through a private property lot where orange cones and signs will mark the path; then turn right onto Fairways Ct.

Fairways Ct. make LEFT onto Cypress Dr.

Cypress Dr. make RIGHT onto Juniper Rd.

Juniper Rd. make LEFT onto Oakleaf Dr.

Oakleaf Dr. go toward the FINISH LINE at the Bridge near McNeill Park.

PARKING WILL BE LIMITED. If you are able, please walk, ride a bike, or drive a golf cart to help mitigate parking congestion.

Preferred parking will be on either Holly Rd, Cedar Rd. or Willow Rd. Please enter those streets from Salter Path (Hwy. 58) and exit the same way. Please park only in the right-of-way and NOT in the street proper.

Please avoid parking east of McNeil Park on Oakleaf Drive as this constitutes a large part of the race and walking course. The PKS police will be blocking Oakleaf Drive starting at 8:00 AM.

There will be no parking available at McNeill Park parking lot.

Please be watchful of people leaving after the race and runners/walkers that are still finishing. See map below for more details.

1. The Race/Walk/Dog Walk begins and ends at McNeil Park, Pine Knoll Shores, NC. See more detailed maps on the EVENT INFO page of this website.

2. T-SHIRTS: If you have previously ordered your t-shirt, you can pick it up on November 25 between 3:00-4:00 PM at McNeil Park or at the registration table on race day November 26. You can also order additional T-shirts at the STORE.

3. PARKING: Parking will be limited. Please consult the parking map and park in designated areas. The PKS Police will close Oakleaf Drive, both east and west of the bridge near McNeil Park, 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.

4. COURSE MAP: Please review the 5K Course Map before the race or the Dog Stroll Map. It will help you to understand the many turns along the route. We will have a lead biker for the 5K run. Please also follow the signs that will point you along the route and on the golf course as well. If you are walking the 5K, please remember that there are no dogs or baby strollers allowed on the golf course.

5. ARRIVING AT THE EVENT: If you have registered for the race, there is no need to "check in" prior to the event. No bibs will be distributed. Come directly to the starting line on the bridge at McNeil Park by 8:15 AM for both events. The race will start PROMPTLY @ 8:30 AM. We will start the Dog Stroll immediately following the start of the 5K.

6. FINISH LINE: please stay in line at the finish ... this is just a "fun run" so let's be courteous to all runners. Water, bananas and treats will be available.

7. DOOR PRIZES:  If your name is drawn at random for one of the gifts, we will also have those winners posted at the registration table at 10 AM. If your name is drawn and you are not present, you will be contacted by email and we will mail you the award.

8. RAIN OR SHINE: We will hold the race, rain or shine unless there is extreme inclement weather. Let's hope for a sunny cool day!

9. VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!!! If you can volunteer to help support the event, please register for the task where you would like to help! All volunteers receive a FREE T-shirt.

10. DONATIONS TO THE ANGEL TREE: You can still make donations to the Hope for the Warriors Angel Tree through the event website. We will also have a collection bucket at the race as well.

11. SAFETY FIRST: We will have 400 people at the event. Please be mindful of everyone who will be walking along the public streets. DRIVE SLOWLY entering or leaving the event.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING

We are very thankful to our corporate sponsors for 2025.

Our event sponsors the Hope for the Warriors Angel Tree...Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

Here is the 1.5 Mile Dog Walk Course verbose directions and download the map by clicking on the PDF icon below to see a map of the course. Please take note of the specific OUTBOUND and INBOUND instructions. 

The race/walk begins and ends at McNeil Park.

TURN BY TURN DIRECTIONS FOLLOWING THE MAP ABOVE

START at McNeil Park at 8:35 am

Make an immediate RIGHT turn onto Cedar Rd.

From Cedar Road take a LEFT turn onto Cypress Dr.

From Cypress Dr. take a LEFT turn onto Holly Rd.

From Holly Rd. take a RIGHT turn onto Oakleaf Dr.

Oakleaf Dr. make a RIGHT turn onto Willow Rd.

From Willow Rd. take a LEFT turn onto Cypress Dr. 

From Cypress Dr. take a LEFT turn onto Yaupon Rd.

From Yaupon Rd. take a RIGHT turn onto Oakleaf Dr. 

From Oakleaf Dr. take a RIGHT turn onto Juniper

From Juniper Rd. take a RIGHT turn onto Cypress Dr.

From Cypress Dr. take a RIGHT to Cedar Rd.

From Cedar Rd. take a LEFT onto Oakleaf Dr.

Take Oakleaf Dr. toward the FINISH LINE at McNeill Park