Answers to Frequently Asked Questions: Yes, strollers are okay. No dogs please. Please leave them at home. Yes, you can still register with this page up until Thanksgiving morning. Yes, you can change races by going to your profile in RunSignUp and choosing "change event." Walkers, please do not block the whole path. Stay right, so runners can pass on the left. Music, cowbell, good times … Run’ucopia is a Salem tradition. The course will cross the new bridge through one of the largest interconnected urban park systems in the nation! Bring your family and friends and engage in some healthy activity before your feast. Consider this your “appetite development.” It is a tradition of friends, family and competitors. Distances: 1K kids run (6 & under) Free! Just sign the form on race day... 6K run/walk (4 mile) 10K run (6.2 mile) 15k run (9.3 mile) Location: Riverfront Park, Salem, Oregon. Start/Finish at the pavilion. Date & Time: Thanksgiving morning. Thursday, November 26, 2026. Here is your schedule: 8:00 am Check-in opens at the pavilion. Grab your bib 8:45 1k Kids race 9:10 Race start 15k 9:12 Race start for 10k 9:14 Race start for 6k Post-race: Check the raffle to see if you won 9:50 6k awards. Hot chocolate & coffee from Dutch Bros is enjoyed until supplies run out. Commemorative photos are taken. 10:15 10k awards and 15k soon thereafter. The Course: The course is a beautiful tour of the largest interconnected urban park system in the United States and starts at the pavilion on the south side of Salem Riverfront Park. It passes around the Eco-Earth and onto the new bridge into Minto Brown Island Park. The 6k run/walk course is now a little more of a loop course. It is closer to 4 miles, and you get to tour a little more of beautiful Minto Brown Island Park. The 10k and 15k go deeper into Minto Brown Island Park before heading back to the Pavilion start/finish area. Many signs & volunteers mark the way. Be sure to check out the route below. The 10k is a very simple out-and-back with a turnaround near the 1930's Buick. The 15k is also an out-and-back, but on the return, you have to turn right to do your 15k loop, which takes you off the pavement onto a nice dirt trail, directing you back towards the starting line. You go deep, then do the loop. Signs and volunteers guide the way. View the 6k course here: 6k/ 4 mile course View the 10k course here: Revised 10k course View the 15k course here: Revised 15k course Again this year: Express what you are grateful for this year on the giant chalkboard. Timing: The Run’ucopia is always chip-timed. Pre-Registration: There is a small online sign-up fee. Register early for the best price. Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Early packet pickup: Wednesday 11/25 in downtown Salem at Gallagher’s Fitness Resources (135 Commercial St. NE) from 2:30pm to 5:45pm (Come down to the Basement). Do not arrive early unless you are shopping please. Pickup some new running gear, sports nutrition, or Christmas gifts while you are there. Age Groups for the 6k, 10k, 15k runs: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-79, 80 & over. Ribbons for top 3 age group placers. Special gifts for top 3 men’s and women’s winners in each distance. The 1k kids run is free this year, and is for kids 6 and under. Just report to the registration desk to sign the waiver & get their bib. This one is just for fun and is self-timed. All kids run finishers get a ribbon. 5-6 is not too young to do the 6k with the group, but separate sign up is required for that event. Walking Groups: Walkers are welcome and encouraged to join in the fun. For safety reasons, we ask walkers to stay to the right side of the path to allow runners to pass on the left. The paths are narrow, so please do not block the whole path. Chart your progress: One of the great things about running & walking is that the improvements are REAL. They can be clearly seen by your time on the course. So we encourage everyone to write their time on their bibs to remember it for next year. Opportunities to contribute to your community: The registration form includes a place to donate to our charity partners. The race organization also makes annual contributions. Please join us to help make Salem awesome. Participating again this year is Outward Church and their annual Thanksgiving Meal Program. They are back at it this year organizing a feast for families in need. Each Thanksgiving, they cook and deliver full meals to over 200 families, many of them were at least partially sponsored by generous Run’ucopia runners. To sponsor a family’s full meal, it is $35. Or please consider just the turkey at $20, or just the sides for $10. The on-line registration form lets you donate any level you feel able to give. You can read more about it here: http://www.THXSalem.com As you can imagine, there are a lot of logistics involved in cooking, loading and delivering this many meals. They need your help
Course & Travel Notes
The Salem Run'ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot takes place in Salem, Oregon on November 26, 2026, with races starting at 9:10 AM—well after sunrise at 7:24 AM. The venue sits at 164 feet elevation, offering a relatively flat course. Salem-Willamette Valley Airport (McNary Field) is just 2.8 miles away, making it convenient for travelers. Plan for typical late-November Oregon weather with highs around 54°F and lows near 39°F, and be prepared for rain since measurable precipitation occurs on about 59% of days this time of year.
⛰️ 164 ft elevation☀️ Typically 54°F / 39°F · 59% chance of rain✈️ Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field (SLE) — 2.8 mi
Hotels Near This Race
Find accommodation close to the start line in Salem, OR. Sorted by distance from the race venue. Book early — race weekend hotels fill fast.
RaceHotelFinder earns a small commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Results are sorted by distance from the race venue.
Salem Run’ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 6k/10k/15k 2026 — Salem, OR
Race weekend dates pre-loaded on Booking.com. RaceHotelFinder may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Race Travel Insurance
Don't forget travel insurance for November 26.
You've trained for months and booked a trip to Salem, OR.
A pre-race injury, a delayed flight, or a family emergency can derail the whole thing.
Travel insurance can help cover your race entry fee, hotel, and flights if you can't make it,
and may cover medical costs if something goes wrong on the course. Plans typically only run
5-7% of your total trip cost — and running events are covered under standard plans with no
additional coverage needed.
Trip cancellation up to 100% of prepaid costs
Running events covered under standard plans — no add-ons needed
Trip interruption up to 150% of non-refundable costs
When is Salem Run’ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 6k/10k/15k 2026 — Salem, OR?
Salem Run’ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 6k/10k/15k 2026 — Salem, OR takes place on November 26, 2026. The race is held in Salem, Oregon.
Where is Salem Run’ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 6k/10k/15k 2026 — Salem, OR held?
Salem Run’ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 6k/10k/15k 2026 — Salem, OR is held at Salem Riverfront Park in Salem, Oregon.
Where can I find hotels near Salem Run’ucopia Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 6k/10k/15k 2026 — Salem, OR?
RaceHotelFinder shows hotels sorted by distance from the race venue in Salem. Use the map or list view on this page to compare options and book race weekend accommodation.