Charlotte Turkey Trot: CPI Security Race Guide and Post-Run Beer

Key takeaways

• The CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot is on Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting and finishing at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC.
• Start times: 1 Mile at 8:00 a.m., 8K at 8:10, Tot Trot at 8:30 and 5K at 9:10.
• The race has sold out the last three years, so confirm there's still room before you plan around it. The 5K and 8K are $55 through November 21 and $59 after that, per the race's pricing page.
• Entries include a long-sleeve cotton shirt and a finisher medal, with an event beer garden on site.
• The race bills itself as the largest road race in North Carolina, with 12,000+ runners and a 37-year history.

The CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot is North Carolina's biggest Thanksgiving morning run, and for a beer-minded crew it has something most turkey trots don't: a beer garden at the event itself. If your crew already runs a brewery route or a beer mile, this is the holiday version of the same ritual: earn it, then drink to it.

Details below come from the race's registration listings as of November 11, 2026. Parts of the race FAQ appear to carry over from last year, so I've flagged anything you should double-check on cltturkeytrot.com and in your confirmation email.

What is the Charlotte Turkey Trot?

It's a Thanksgiving morning road race that starts and finishes at SouthPark Mall. The race describes itself as one of the best Thanksgiving Day turkey trots in America, a tradition for the past 37 years, and the largest road race in North Carolina with 12,000+ runners. The race supports the CMPD Explorers Toy Drive: you can bring a new, unwrapped toy on race day or add a donation at registration, and bins are at the finish festival. Violent toys and toy guns aren't accepted.

What distances and start times are there?

The 5K starts an hour after the 8K, so a crew can split up: the speedy ones run the 8K and everyone meets at the finish for the 5K crowd. The courses aren't USATF-certified. They were measured by calibrating devices against a steel tape.

How much does it cost?

The race's pricing page lists tiers that rise through the fall:

Runners 18 and under get $5 off the 8K and 5K at checkout. The Tot Trot is free for ages 8 and under, with registration ending November 25. The race says it sold out the last three years, so if registration is closed when you check, ask whether a bib transfer is possible (see below).

What's included?

• A long-sleeve cotton shirt.
• Finisher medals for the 8K, 5K and 1 Mile.
• Age group awards in the 8K and 5K, based on chip time.
• Post-event snacks, product sampling, DJs, coffee trucks and photo backdrops.
• An event beer garden featuring Legion Brewing and Suffolk Punch Brewing.

Packet pickup

There are nine pickup locations in October and November, including three at SouthPark, Birkdale, Fort Mill, Matthews, Myers Park, Pineville and Waverly. The race's FAQ lists race-week pickup at SouthPark and says race-morning pickup was a paid add-on with an earlier purchase deadline. Because that page looks like last year's, check the current dates and whether race-morning pickup is offered on cltturkeytrot.com before you plan around it. Put one captain in charge of the crew's bibs.

Parking and getting there

Per the race FAQ, event-day parking is free in the SouthPark Mall deck and surface lots, with more than 7,000 spots at the mall. Avoid the lots closest to DICK'S Sporting Goods, and enter via Fairview Rd. or Sharon Rd. Arrive early anyway, since a race this size fills the lots, and set a meeting landmark near the start. Phone service gets patchy in a crowd.

Strollers, dogs and pace rules

• Strollers: Allowed. Start near the back of your corral. Babies in strollers don't need to be registered.
• Dogs: Not allowed under the event's insurance policy, except for approved medical needs.
• Pace limits: The 8K needs a pace of at least 13:45 per mile, and 5K walkers slower than 20:00 per mile may be moved to the sidewalk by police.
• Weather: If weather before 8:00 a.m. is a problem, the first start may be delayed up to 30 minutes. If conditions stay unsafe, the event can be cancelled. Updates go out by the website, email and social media.

Refunds, transfers and changes

Registration fees aren't refunded. You can transfer your bib to another runner through your RunSignUp account before the event, and the new runner has to accept it and sign the waiver. You can also change your distance yourself up to 72 hours before the event, subject to availability. Confirm these rules on the current race page, since the FAQ appears to carry over from last year.

The post-run beer

Your best plan is the one built into the morning: the event beer garden, featuring Legion Brewing and Suffolk Punch Brewing. I couldn't confirm the beer garden's hours, ID rules or whether it opens for every wave, so check the race page. If you'd rather head to a taproom afterward, many keep short Thanksgiving hours, so call ahead. Take a rideshare or have a designated driver. The plan is to enjoy the drink, not to drive on it.

Should you track it in Run4It?

If your crew logs streaks and weekly challenges, a tracker keeps the habit going after the race. Run4It tracks your run and shows the drink those miles earned, so Turkey Day becomes a big day on your streak. The earned drink is a motivational count, not a purchase, and the app doesn't sell or redeem drinks.

Run4It also logs workouts you add by hand (weights, bike, swim, yoga and more), and the weekly Run4It Combo is 2 runs + 1 workout, so the Turkey Trot can be one of your two runs. If you want pace analysis or segment leaderboards, Strava does that better. Run4It is built for the ritual.

FAQ

Is the Charlotte Turkey Trot timed?
Yes. Age group awards are based on chip time, which runs from the start line to the finish. Scan the QR code on the back of your bib after the race to see whether you won.

Is it a sellout?
The race says it sold out the last three years. Check the registration page to see whether bibs are still available.

What time should I get there?
The first events start at 8:00 a.m., so be at SouthPark early. Pick a meeting spot and arrive at least 30 to 40 minutes before your start.

Can I run with a stroller or a dog?
Strollers, yes. Dogs, no, except for approved medical needs.

What happens in bad weather?
The first start can be delayed up to 30 minutes. If conditions stay unsafe, the event can be cancelled. Watch the website, email and social media.

Where does the money go?
The race supports the CMPD Explorers Toy Drive. You can bring a new, unwrapped toy or add a donation when you register.

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 CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot or any brewery mentioned.

Sources: CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot on RunSignUp, Race info on RunSignUp, Charlotte Turkey Trot FAQs, Charlotte Turkey Trot event details