Boise Turkey Day 5K: Race Guide and Post-Run Beer

Key takeaways

• The Boise Turkey Day 5K is a Thanksgiving morning run/walk at the Idaho Capitol. It starts at 9:00 a.m. MST on Thursday, November 26, 2026, with the start at Cecil Andrus Park.
• The adult 5K is $50, and the price goes up after November 19 at 11:59 p.m. MST. The Kids 5K (ages 12 and under) is $18.
• Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome. The race runs rain or shine.
• Entries are non-refundable, but you can transfer yours for $10 until midnight on November 20.
• The race benefits Boise Rescue Mission and Camp Rainbow Gold.
• Boise breweries are close by, but most open late morning. Plan your post-run beer, and check Thanksgiving hours before you go.

The Boise Turkey Day 5K is the city's Thanksgiving morning tradition: a downtown run/walk at the Capitol that gets your miles in before the feast. If your crew already runs a brewery route or a beer mile, this is the holiday version of the same ritual. Earn it first, then drink to it. This guide covers the details, the deadlines, and where to go afterward.

Details below come from the official race site and RunSignUp page as of November 11, 2026. Check them again before race day, because times, prices and pickup hours can change.

What is the Boise Turkey Day 5K?

It's a community 5K run/walk held on Thanksgiving Day in downtown Boise. The 2026 race is the event's 15th year, and it benefits Boise Rescue Mission and Camp Rainbow Gold. Runners and walkers can also donate, bring canned food, or volunteer. Locals often call it the Boise Turkey Trot.

What distances does it offer?

The race gives you 2.5 hours from the first wave, after which the streets reopen. A timing chip is attached to the back of your bib, so wear the bib on the front of your body between the waist and shoulders.

Where does it start and finish?

The race is at Cecil Andrus Park in front of the Capitol (601 W Jefferson St, Boise). The start is on Bannock and the finish is on Jefferson, in front of the Capitol. The official site has a course map, so check it before race morning. I'm not describing the route here, since the map posted so far is last year's.

How do you register?

Register on RunSignUp through the race website. The adult 5K price rises after November 19 at 11:59 p.m. MST, so get your whole crew signed up in one sitting. Entries are non-refundable. If you can't make it, you can transfer your registration to someone else for $10 until midnight on November 20, or change your shirt size online before packet pickup.

Packet pickup and race-morning logistics

Packet pickup is at Shu's Idaho Running Company in the days before the race. Race-morning pickup is limited, so grab your bib early. The race's own pages list slightly different pickup hours, so confirm the exact days and times on the official site before you go. A friend can pick up your packet if they have your registration confirmation email (a photo is fine).

For race morning:

• Parking is covered on the race's Boise Parking page. Streets around the start and finish are part of the race, so arrive early and expect closures.
• Set a meeting spot with your crew for after the finish. Downtown crowds make phone service unreliable.
• The race may add a water station if it's above 65°F.

Is it good for walkers, families and first-timers?

Yes. It's a 5K run/walk, strollers are welcome, with waves set aside for them, and kids in strollers don't need to register or wear a bib. Leashed dogs are welcome too, and the race sometimes has dedicated dog waves. Owners clean up after them, and aggressive dogs should stay home. If you're walking, line up toward the back and treat it as a brisk 5K with a costume on.

Where do you get the post-run beer?

You'll finish around mid-morning, and breweries mostly open at 11 a.m., so build in a gap. Grab coffee or breakfast, then head over. Here are two good options:

• 10 Barrel Brewing (826 W Bannock St) is a short walk from the start. Its listed weekday hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but it doesn't post holiday hours, so call ahead.
• Payette Brewing (733 S Pioneer St) opened its taproom on Thanksgiving last year, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check its site for this year's hours before you plan around it.

Thanksgiving hours change every year, so pick a first choice and a backup, and book a table if you can. Take a rideshare or have a designated driver. After the race, the plan is to enjoy the drink, not to drive on it.

Turn the Turkey Day 5K into a run club tradition

The easiest way to make this a ritual is to treat it like your regular weekly run with a bigger crowd. Pick the same brewery every year, grab the same table, and let new runners from your club join in. A streak of Turkey Day 5Ks followed by the same post-run beer becomes its own badge.

Should you track it in Run4It?

If your crew already logs streaks and weekly challenges, a tracker keeps the habit going between races. Run4It tracks your run and shows the drink those miles earned, so the finish line comes with something to look forward to. The earned drink is a motivational count, not a purchase, and the app doesn't sell or redeem drinks.

Run4It now logs more than runs. You can add a workout by hand (weights, bike, swim, yoga and more), and it counts toward your streak and your weekly goal. The Turkey Day 5K can be one of the two runs in your weekly Run4It Combo (2 runs + 1 workout).

One honest note: if you want detailed pace analysis, segments or race predictions, Strava does that better. Run4It is built for the ritual, with streaks, badges and the drink you earned.

FAQ

Is the Boise Turkey Day 5K timed?
Your bib has a timing chip attached, so the race tracks finish times. Confirm timing details for each event on the official site.

Can I bring a stroller or my dog?
Yes to both. Strollers are welcome, with waves set aside for them, and kids in strollers don't need a bib. Dogs must be leashed and their owners must clean up after them. Dedicated dog waves are sometimes offered.

What if it rains?
The race runs rain or shine. Pack a throwaway layer for the start and dry clothes for the brewery. The severe weather policy is on the race's RunSignUp page.

Can I get a refund if I can't run?
No. Entries are non-refundable, but you can transfer yours to someone else for $10 until midnight on November 20. The race FAQ also mentions a virtual option, so check the race site for how that works.

Where do the start and finish happen?
The start is on Bannock and the finish is on Jefferson in front of the Capitol, near Cecil Andrus Park. See the official course map before race day.

Do I need to be fast to join?
Not at all. It's a run/walk, and the field includes families, strollers, dogs and costumes. Nobody at a Turkey Trot is auditing your splits.

FINISHED! TURKEY STYLE. Run for it. You earned it.

Run4It is for adults 21 and over. Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Run4It is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Boise Turkey Day 5K or any brewery mentioned.

Sources: Boise Turkey Day 5K race page, Boise details, RunSignUp registration, RunSignUp FAQ, 10 Barrel Brewing, Payette Brewing Thanksgiving 2025 hours