Simply register online at 44th Annual Strategic StaIing Solution Turkey Trot Registration
through Monday, November 23, 2026, UNLESS WE SELL OUT BEFORE MONDAY

In-person registration is available on Wednesday, November 25th from 12:00 pm- 7:00 pm inside Huntington Place, Hall E, UNLESS WE SELL OUT BEFORE Wednesday, November 25th, 2026. 

You will be notified by email when your registration is processed. You can log into your RunSignUp account and check “My Races” to confirm your registration.

No. Event organizers ask that young children be accompanied by an adult, even for the BCBSM Mashed Potato Mile.

If you decide to switch races after you have registered, but before race day, please email the change request to our Registration Director, Mark Koehl, at mkoehl@theparade.org. If you already picked up your packet, be sure to provide Mark with your assigned bib number. If you decide to switch on Race Day, you need to go to the Help Desk at Huntington Place Race Central inside Hall E.

Shirt sizing is unisex. Please refer to the size chart available on our online registration page before choosing a size. Shirts are ordered months in advance of the event, based on estimates. Therefore, we may not have enough of every size available at every packet pickup location, on any given day. We advise you to pick your packet up early to ensure your size is available at your packet pick-up location. Shirts cannot be exchanged for a diIerent size at any of the early packet pickup locations.

The S3 Turkey Trot has a no refund policy. Participants can transfer their registration to another person if they are unable to attend. If you are interested in transferring your registration to another person, please contact our Registration Director, Mark Koehl, at mkoehl@theparade.org. 

For those new to racing, a packet includes your bib number and participant shirt. The S3 Turkey Trot offers Early Packet Pick-up at several locations around the Metro Detroit area from November 14, 2026 through November 21, 2026, in addition to a pick-up option at the S3 Turkey Trot Race Central on November 25, 2026 and November 26, 2026 inside of Hall E at Huntington Place.

Yes. At the early packet pick-up locations, participants will need the name & zip code used during registration. Please be sure of the spelling and zip code accuracy. It speeds up the process to have names and zip codes written down when you arrive, especially if you are picking up more than one packet. Since race numbers are not assigned until pickup, packets may be picked up at whichever location is most convenient for the participant.

You can find a list of locations HERE. 

Yes, Since race numbers are not assigned until pickup, packets may be picked up at whichever location is most convenient for the participant.

No, Shirts cannot be exchanged for a diIerent size at any of the early packet pickup locations.

No. However, unexpected road work and construction in the City of Detroit may lead to last minute course changes. Follow us on social media (Instagram and Facebook) to be notified of any adjustments.

Course Maps can be found on The Parade Company website HERE

Yes, participants can run with baby joggers or strollers in the slower waves (NOT in the yellow or blue waves). Event organizers strongly request that participants utilizing a baby jogger or other stroller start in or near the back of the participant group for both the participant’s safety and the safety of others.

Because of safety issues, we do not permit hand cyclists to participate. Wheelchair participants can take part in the slower waves (NOT in the yellow or blue waves). Event organizers strongly request that participants utilizing wheelchairs start in or near the back of the participant group for both the participant’s safety and the safety of others.

Due to course congestion and Huntington Place’s policy against animals, event organizers do not allow dogs or animals of any kind to participate in the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot events.

We have one water station on the course, one water station after you finish directly inside the Huntington Place Atrium, and additional food and refreshments available inside Hall E of Huntington Place (formerly TCF/Cobo).

Yes. Portable restrooms can be found along the course route. Additional restrooms are available on the first two levels of Huntington Place.

Yes at the following locations. 

HART MEDICAL LOCATIONS:

#1 – Woodward Ave at W. Kirby (Ambulance)

#2 – Fort St at Griswold St. (Ambulance)

#3 – Washington Blvd at Fort St. (Cart)

#4 – Yzerman Dr, at Finish Area exit (Ambulance)

#5 – Yzerman Dr, at Finish Line (Cart)

#6 – Expo (EMT’s inside Huntington Place)

Event organizers are working to provide the most convenient parking locations for our volunteers and participants. Primary locations are:

• Huntington Place (both underground and rooftop)
• Millennium Garage, 432 W. Congress (across from Huntington Place)
• Center Garage (SP+ Parking): 414 Renaissance Drive West adjacent to the Renaissance Center

NOTE that all listed parking garages are “Pay by Charge Card” ONLY. 

Wherever you plan to park – GET THERE EARLY! That’s the best advice we can give. Arrive at your parking lot of choice no later than 6:15 a.m. on race morning, no matter which race you attend.

Detailed parking information can be found HERE

Yes. The Gear Check area is located inside Huntington Place Atrium, which is adjacent to Hall E. The Strategic StaFFing Solutions Turkey Trot and The Parade Company are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Participants will receive a clear plastic bag for gear to be checked. All items for gear check MUST fit inside the bag provided. Any bag inside Huntington Place is subject to a security check. All Gear Check bags must be picked up by 11:00 am on Thanksgiving Day. 

Corrals (or waves of participants) are assigned by mile pace during registration. 10K and 5K races start at diFFerent times, each with five corrals.

CORRAL & PACE
Yellow     8 minutes per mile and faster
Blue        8 – 10 minutes
Green     10 – 11:30 minutes
White     11:30 – 13 minutes
Red         Slower than 13 minutes & walkers

S3 Turkey Trot 10K                    7:30am      Griswold & Fort St.
BCBSM Mashed Potato Mile     7:30am      Atwater, behind HUNTINGTON PLACE
Stffing Strut 5K                          8:30am      Griswold & Fort St.

ALL events finish on Atwater, behind Huntington Place, adjacent to the Detroit River.

Because of America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White, all participants must be off the Woodward Ave. portion of the course by 9:10 AM. The 10K starts at 7:30 AM, and you turn off Woodward at approximately the 4-mile mark. The 5K starts at 8:30 AM, and you turn off Woodward about halfway through the race, at the 1.5-mile mark. The finish line at Huntington Place closes at 10:00 AM.

Most definitely! Costumes make our S3 Turkey Trot “The Parade before the Parade!” Wearing costumes is a time-honored tradition and highly encouraged!

Unfortunately, we do not have a discount code for the Marriott at the Renaissance Center this year. We recommend checking one of the discount services like Expedia or Hotels.com for discounted hotel pricing. 

Anywhere along the course route! Course Map can be found HERE. 

We have one water station on the course, one water station after you finish directly inside the Huntington Place Atrium, and additional food and refreshments available inside Hall E of Huntington Place (formerly TCF/Cobo).

First place awards will be given for men’s 10k and 5k winners and women’s 10k and 5k winners.

Each bib includes a QR code (a computerized identification symbol). If you have a code reader app on your smartphone (such as QR Droid or QR Code Reader), you may scan your bib and receive your results within an hour of finishing. Participants can also ask one of our information volunteers for assistance with scanning the QR code. Results are posted online after 4:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day. Results links will be posted on our event website, as well as our social media outlets (Instagram and Facebook).

The 10K and the 5K are all B-tag timed (chip on back of bib number).

Participants in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mashed Potato Mile have clock timing, which means you need to mark your own start and finish time.

Custom-designed medals are awarded to all finishers. Medals are handed out in the finish chute once participants cross the finish line. 

A volunteer photographer is onsite to snap photos at the start and finish lines.