Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Penguin Waddle
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Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Penguin Waddle
The event at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, NJ, brings together community runners and walkers for a course that finishes inside the zoo on October 18, 2026. Participants receive post-run zoo admission as part of registration. Organizers describe a main course of roughly three miles with an optional shorter Safari Shortcut.
- 3 Miles main course finishing inside the Zoo.
- ~2 miles Safari Shortcut course.
There are age-specific participant categories with separate registration fees: one category for ages 13 and older and another for ages 2 to 12. Spectators who want early entry to the finish area must purchase an Official Spectator Pass; the pass is required for spectators aged 2 years and up. Day-of spectator passes are available at the start and zoo entrance. Zoo members may enter early without a spectator pass by showing valid membership at packet pick-up; members who register as participants may apply a member promo code.
Packet pick-up includes an early pick-up location at Fleet Feet Montclair on the day before the event and an event day pick-up location to be announced. The first 300 registered participants receive a custom pom-pom beanie. This is not an official race and there is no event timing. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
