Thanksgiving Day Run in Canada 2026: The Trails-Giving 5K Turkey Trot

South of the border, the "turkey trot" is a Thanksgiving institution — millions of Americans start Thanksgiving Day with a 5K before the big meal. In Canada, races on Thanksgiving Monday itself are surprisingly rare. That's exactly the gap the Trails-Giving 5K fills: a genuine Thanksgiving Day run in Canada, on Monday, October 12, 2026, in Dieppe, New Brunswick.

Why a Thanksgiving Monday race just works

Earn the turkey. A 5 km run or walk at 9:00 AM starts the holiday with fresh air, family, and fall colours instead of the couch.
Everyone's already off work. No juggling a Saturday race against hockey practice and groceries. The whole household can come: it's a run and walk, strollers are welcome, there's no minimum pace, and every finisher gets a medal — kids included.
Peak Maritime fall. Mid-October in southeast New Brunswick means crisp mornings and foliage near its peak. The point-to-point course runs from the Dieppe Aquatic Centre to Parc Rotary St-Anselme, one of the region's prettiest trail parks, with a free shuttle from finish-line parking to the start.
A long-weekend road trip that fits. Coming from Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland, eastern Quebec or Maine for the long weekend? Dieppe sits beside Moncton at the hub of the Maritimes — an easy add-on to any Thanksgiving visit to Greater Moncton. Race at 9, be back for dinner prep anywhere in the Maritimes.

Turkey trot details

The Trails-Giving 5K is chip timed by Atlantic Chip, so competitive runners get official results, while walkers get the same course, the same medal, and the same post-race high-fives. Registration is CA$35 adult / CA$20 youth until September 7 (early bird), then CA$40 / CA$25 until October 11. The race is organized by MDR Trails, the non-profit connecting Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview through a continuous trail network — meaning your Thanksgiving indulgence literally gives back to the trails ("Trails-Giving" — now you get the name).

This is the first edition. Turkey trots become family traditions fast; here's your chance to be in the founding-year photos. Course map, FAQ and shuttle details are on the Trails-Giving 5K homepage.

Claim your spot in Canada's Thanksgiving 5K →

Course de l'Action de grâce au Canada 2026 : le Trails-Giving 5K

Aux États-Unis, le « turkey trot » — la course de la dinde — est une tradition incontournable du jour de la Thanksgiving. Au Canada, les courses tenues le lundi même de l'Action de grâce sont étonnamment rares. Le Trails-Giving 5K · La course des sentiers comble ce vide : une vraie course de l'Action de grâce, le lundi 12 octobre 2026 à Dieppe, au Nouveau-Brunswick.

Méritez votre souper de dinde : 5 km de course ou de marche à 9 h, du Centre aquatique de Dieppe au parc Rotary St-Anselme, au cœur des couleurs d'automne. Chronométrage par puce (Atlantic Chip), médaille pour chaque participant — enfants compris —, poussettes bienvenues, aucune allure minimale, et navette gratuite du stationnement de l'arrivée vers le départ.

Vous venez de la Nouvelle-Écosse, de l'Î.-P.-É., de Terre-Neuve, de l'est du Québec ou du Maine pour la longue fin de semaine? Dieppe est au carrefour des Maritimes, voisine de Moncton. Courez à 9 h, soyez de retour pour préparer le souper.

Tarifs : 35 $ adulte / 20 $ jeune jusqu'au 7 septembre (tarif hâtif), puis 40 $ / 25 $ jusqu'au 11 octobre. Organisé par Sentiers MDR, organisme sans but lucratif — vos frais d'inscription soutiennent les sentiers communautaires. C'est la première édition : soyez de la photo de l'année fondatrice.

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