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Sat November 22, 2025 Kennesaw, GA 30144 US Directions
For you Early Birds! The Five Star Turkey Trot is back for 2025~ Run early!
If you crossed one of our Finish Lines from 1/1/25 - 11/14/2025, you qualify to run (1) in-person Turkey Trot for free! (See race details for more info.)
Countdown to Race Day

Events

5K

$25
$0 - $21 8:00AM EST
Events: 5K 5K-Racer this year

10K

$25
$0 - $21 8:00AM EST
Events: 10K 10K-Racer this year

15K

$25
$0 - $21 8:00AM EST
Events: 15K 15K-Racer this year

Half Marathon

$25
$0 - $21 8:00AM EST
Events: Half Marathon Half Marathon-Racer this year

Virtual Events

$21 8:00AM EST
Events: Virtual 5K Virtual 10K Virtual 15K Virtual Half Marathon

Race Website

Additional race information can be found at http://fivestarturkeytrot.com.

Place

200 Chastain Meadows Ct
Kennesaw, GA US 30144

Description

This is the EARLY BIRD RACE...Saturday 11/22/2025 in Kennesaw.

We are excited to bring back our Turkey Trot events for 2025!~  Guidelines will be the same as prior, please note the specific dates in order to qualify for a complimentary race entry!

If you haven't crossed under our finish line this year...that's OK too...You can still come out and join us...it's just $21($25 Race Day), in-person or virtual.

Swag available for purchase:  Awesome Shirts $22, Hoodies $27 & Finisher Medals available for just $7.50!

Two weeks before Thanksgiving in 2011, we decided that we wanted to give back to all the participants who came out to race with us over the course of the year. Thanksgiving morning seemed to be the perfect time, and giving them a FREE race would be the perfect way to say thanks. We're continuing that tradition...If you've crossed under our finish line in any race from Dec. 1, 2024 - Nov. 14, 2025, you've earned yourself a FREE 5K spot in ONE of the in-person Turkey Trot races.  (Please note the dates.  Running one of our Turkey Trots last year does NOT qualify for a free entry.)

BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR...THE Early Bird Race.  Everything will be the same as Thanksgiving Day, but we're letting you race on Saturday November 22nd in Marietta/Kennesaw, if you want to.

THAT'S THIS RACE YOU ARE ABOUT TO REGISTER FOR!

Race Contact Info

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

Charity Partner

​The Early Bird Turkey Trot is proud to announce that the Georgia House Rabbit Society, a volunteer-based non-profit rabbit rescue organization is the 2025 Charity Partner.

Georgia House Rabbit Society – Help Feed Rescue Rabbits!


Georgia House Rabbit Society (GHRS) is Georgia’s only stand alone domestic rabbit-exclusive shelter providing medical care, and adoption services for rabbits as well as ongoing education to adopters and the public.

Every month, it costs about $6,000 to feed them fresh hay, greens, and pellets to the 100+ rabbits in our care at the facility. 

This Thanksgiving, help give these rabbits a holiday feast! Donate today to keep them happy and healthy while they wait for their furever homes.

It is said that domestic rabbits are the 3rd most popular pet in the United States, falling just behind dogs and cats. Sadly, it is this popularity which also makes them the 3rd most abandoned pet in the country.

Here at GHRS we work to not only save bunnies who have been abused and abandoned, but we also work to correct misinformation about rabbits that so often leads to their abandonment.

Our rescue is the largest rabbit specific shelter in Georgia and there are only a few like it in the country.

Our stand alone facility serves multiple purposes. In addition to providing housing for our rescued rabbits, the shelter also serves as a learning center, a boarding facility, and a source for quality rabbit supplies.

Volunteer

Volunteering for this race can earn you a $50 Visa Gift Card.

Here's how it works: 1) You sign up to volunteer on Volunteer page. 2) You recruit 5 (five) others to volunteer for this race and have them sign up on the Volunteer page and put Your Name when it asks who recruited them. 3) You and your recruits show up on race day and volunteer for the entire race. 4) After the race, if all qualifications are met, Five Star NTP will mail you your $50 Visa Gift card.

Get started by going to the Volunteer Page to sign up for this race.

 

Sponsor

The Early Bird Turkey Trot is accepting sponsors. With a crowd of over 1,000 athletes and spectators, your company/organization will want to be a part of this annual event. Contact Meredith for more information

The Early Bird Turkey Trot features a carefully designed course that consists of a 3.1-mile or 5K loop.

This format allows participants to choose from a range of distances, including a 5K (1 lap), 10K (2 laps), 15K (3 laps), and Half Marathon (4 laps plus a short additional section). The design enables families to run together, with options for shorter or longer distances, while still allowing spectators to cheer on their loved ones from a single location.

One of the key benefits of our course is that spectators can see the athletes multiple times, providing increased visibility for sponsors. Unlike traditional courses where sponsors may only be seen once, our design ensures that athletes running longer distances will pass by sponsor locations multiple times, maximizing exposure and impact.

Partner Level Pricing--Current year's rates are based on last year's participation counts. Each race is priced individually.

Contact Meredith@fivestarntp.com for more information.

For Partner Level and other Sponsor descriptions, visit Five Star NTP.

Entry Fee & Registration

If you crossed under our Finish Line with us between Dec 2023 & November 14, 2024, you earned yourself a FREE Turkey Trot entry!   Shirts & Finisher Medals are available for purchase.  All participants qualify for Overall/Age Group awards!  *Running the Turkey Trot in 2023 does not qualify.  **Please register for just (1) Turkey Trot event.  Duplicate registrations will be removed.  If you need to make changes, please email Nancy@fivestarntp.com.

All races start at 8:00 AM.

If you haven't, join us for just $21 ($25 on Race Day), with shirt options & finisher medal available for purchase! All participants qualify for Overall/Age Group awards! 

We will have all distances available VIRTUAL for only $21 ($25 on Race Day)  Run your distance of 5K, 10K, 15K, or Half Marathon to earn your turkey!  Awesome shirt options & finisher medal for purchase.  All virtual participants will qualify for Age Group awards in the Virtual events.

Bib Mailing & Packet Pickup

Early Packet Pickup
Friday, Nov. 21
5 - 7:30 pm

 

Bib Mail Out:
For $7.00 (Non-refundable) you can have your bib mailed straight to your front door. We'll be sending the last of them out on Monday November 11th. 
You can sleep in a few extra minutes on race morning...just show up with enough time to get your swag then get in the start corral.  Not available after 11/4
 
Race Day Pickup:
Check in opens at 6:30 am on race morning. Be sure to arrive closer to 6:30 am than 8:00 am so you can get to the Start line in time!

Event Schedule

November 5

  • Registration deadline for guaranteed shirt

November 21

  • Early Packet Pickup...Comfort Suites at KSU, 3366 Busbee Dr. NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
  • 5:00 - 7:30 PM

November 22

  • 6:30 AM - Race Day Check In & Registration Opens
  • 8:00 AM - All Races Start

VIRTUAL RUNNING - HOW IT WORKS & LINK FOR TIME SUBMISSION

Can't make it out to the event site on race day?

Still want to participate or support the cause? Or, maybe you saw the shirt and said:  "Sweet...I want one!"  Then, the virtual race is for you.  Run when & where you want, just submit your time by end of Race Day.  We'll ship out virtual packages the Monday after event date! *Shipping available for continental US only.

New to Virtual Running?  Here's how it works:

Step 1

Get excited, grab some friends and buddies to join you!  Sign up, and register for the Virtual Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K or Half Marathon!

Step 2

Download your Custom Digital Bib!  Hydrate, grab your buddy (or not), and get ready to get moving!

Step 3

Get out there and run or walk! You can run at the park, your favorite route in your neighborhood; anywhere you want.   Please remember to be safe!

Step 4

HAVE FUN!~

Share your distance, a selfie, or a picture along your race route, and use the hashtag #earlybirdturkeytrot #fivestarturkeytrot

Step 5

Submit your results directly on RunSignUp.com, Event website, Results

You can submit your race time HERE on the Results page anytime until end of race day.

Step 6

View your Virtual Results HERE on the RunSignUp Event Page, or your Profile Monday after the Event Date.

Awards & Goodies

Finisher Medals...
Yes...we'll have finisher medals, and you'll be able to get one if you want one for just $7.50!

All participants qualify for Overall & Age Group Awards.  We'll have an Awards Ceremony after the race.  If you don't stay, or miss hearing your name, you may request to have your award shipped, just pay S&H.

Overall Awards
Each race (5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon) will have awards for the Top 3 finishers M/F, and the Top 3 Masters Finishers M/F, Top 3 Senior Masters, and Top 3 Grand Masters.  These awards will be based on electronic-timing.

Age Group Awards
Each race will have awards to the top 3 in each of the normal 5 year age groups (10 & under - 75+). These awards will be based on Electronic-Time.

 

Long sleeve shirts only $22

Hoodies for $27

Course & Timing

It's a great course...The course is flat!...but it's North Georgia, so NOTHING is completely flat.
It's a 5K loop, short & sweet to start your day!

Each distance, thereafter, will be loops. 

Course map 

 

Shirts & Goodies

Long sleeve cotton ($22), and we'll be getting hoodies ($27) too this year. Finisher medals will be $7.50, so get yours to remember your run!

Just pick out what you want, & pay for it during checkout.

Event Parking

Please check the link below to see where parking is NOT permitted for the Early Bird Turkey Trot; you may park anywhere else.

Thank you!

PARKING INFO LINK

Five Star Championships

This is one of the last chances to earn a spot in the 5K/10K Championships, and it's a big group that will earn spots. Check out www.fivestarntp.com for a complete explanation as to how the spots are allocated.

Event Courtesy & Refund Policy

Our events are designed to be fun for the entire family. With that in mind; any
competitor, spectator, parent, volunteer, or sponsor, exhibiting unsportsmanlike
conduct or interfering with the positive, competitive atmosphere of the event will
be asked to leave the venue and course immediately with no refunds.

All registrations are final. There are no refunds, deferments, or transfers.

Event will take place rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather, we will cancel
for the safety of the participants...there are no refunds in this case.

Participants that do not show up to race/event forfeit their right to any swag.

No COVID-19 Refunds.  If unforeseen circumstances arise due to COVID-19, including any Federal or State Health Emergency, refunds will not be provided.  The event will go 100% Virtual & shirts will be shipped to participants.

Directions

MapMyRun Map

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