Waukegan Park District to Host the 26th Annual Turkey Trot
The Waukegan Park District is hosting the 26th Annual Turkey Trot at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Waukegan’s Greg Petry SportsPark, at 3391 W. Beach Road. Participants will have the opportunity to compete in races for a chance to win a turkey while helping the community with a canned food drive that will benefit the COOL Food Pantry in Waukegan.
Races will be held for the following age groups: 13-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-59 years, and 60-plus years. Races range from 5 yards to 1 mile, depending on the age group. The first-place male and female finishers in each age group will be awarded a turkey. All participants will receive a ribbon.
The Waukegan Park District hosted the first Turkey Trot in 1999 at Bevier Park, at 2255 York House Road. The event has been held at Waukegan’s Greg Petry SportsPark since 2021.
The 26th Annual Turkey Trot is hosted as part of the GO WAUKEGAN community initiative. In collaboration with the Lake County Health Department, the Waukegan Park District launched the community initiative to improve the health and wellness of local residents by enhancing and increasing the shared experience of walking through activities, education, and collaboration.
The 26th Annual Turkey Trot is sponsored by the following partners:
• Adriane Johnson for State Senate. Sen. Adriane Johnson represents the 30th District, which includes Waukegan, in the Illinois State Senate.
• Beacon Place: Beacon Place is a neighborhood community center in Waukegan with programs for children and families that focus on academic growth, improved health, and building the skills that allow individuals and families to see their own path to a brighter tomorrow.
On-site check-in and registration will begin at 9 a.m. Preregistration is preferred. The cost to participate is a donation of two cans of nonperishable food. More information about the 26th Annual Turkey Trot, including preregistration, is available at waukeganparks.org/trot.