Registration details are on the race's own site.
Add to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5K | Nov 26, 20269:00 AM | $60 | – |
| 8K | 8K | Nov 26, 20269:00 AM | $65 | – |
| Plymouth Rock Ramble Kids Race | Kids | Nov 26, 202611:00 AM | $25 | – |
Fees and dates are from the race's official website on the date shown below; confirm them there before you register.
At $65, entry is about 63 percent above a typical 8K in Illinois, which costs $40 right now.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:52 AM, and the 5K starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 620 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Cannon Dr. just south of Diversey Pkwy, Diversey Harbor, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL 60614
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Around November 26 the day usually runs from 31°F at dawn to 44°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 18°F and hot years reach 53°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
What runners should know about Life Time Turkey Trot Chicago, in brief, from the official race website.
Schedule and packet pickup
Cannon Dr. closes to cars at 5 a.m. Gear check and race day packet pickup (at 2601 N. Cannon Dr.) open at 6 a.m.; pickup runs until 8:45. Corrals open at 8, both races start at 9, and awards plus a costume contest follow at 10:30. The schedule is tentative.
Schedule and packet pickup
Pickup is planned for Tuesday and Wednesday before the race, with location and hours still to be announced. Bring a photo ID. Bibs can be mailed for $15 each, or $50 for a group of four or more; mailed entrants collect shirts after the race.
Parking and travel
Parking is scarce, so transit or rideshare is advised. CTA buses 22, 36 and 151 serve the park and run a Sunday schedule on the holiday. Rideshare drop off is at Cannon Dr. and Diversey Pkwy. The Lincoln Park Zoo pay lot off Fullerton has limited spaces.
Shirt and medal
Entrants receive a long sleeve tri-blend shirt, a finisher medal, and food and hot drinks after the race. The tailgate area has cornhole, a football toss, a kids zone, sponsor booths and a women's resource tent.
Rules and FAQ
The 5K minimum age is 8 on race day. Strollers are allowed but must start in the last wave. The course suits wheelchairs and para athletes. Dogs are not allowed on the course or in the tailgate. Entries cannot be refunded or transferred; deferral closes November 19.
More from the race
The Plymouth Rock Ramble is for ages 2 to 12, with distances of 50 yards, a quarter mile or a half mile by age. Kids gather at the staging area by 10:30 a.m. and start at 11. Each child gets a medal and a T-shirt.
Facts on this page come from the race's official website (turkeytrotchicago.com, turkeytrotchicago.com/5k-8k, turkeytrotchicago.com/registration, turkeytrotchicago.com/packet-pickup), checked Sep 27, 2026. Confirm dates and fees there before you travel.
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
A Thanksgiving morning 5K and 8K in the north end of Lincoln Park beside Lake Michigan, now in its 48th year. Start, finish and the post race tailgate all sit on Cannon Drive near Diversey Harbor, and the event raises money for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.