Montlake Turkey Trot
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Montlake Turkey Trot
Montlake Turkey Trot is the University District Food Bank’s owned fundraiser and is described as its second largest annual fundraiser. The event is presented as the 11th Annual Montlake Turkey Trot and Kids Run and takes place at E Lynn Street and 25th Avenue East in Seattle, within the Washington Park Arboretum on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples.
The event offers multiple distance options:
- 5K Run/Walk
- Untimed 5K or 1 Mile Walk
- Kids 1 Mile Run
- Kids 1/2 Mile Run
The untimed walk category is offered so participants can take a shorter or more leisurely route; participants in that category do not receive timed results. Dogs are not allowed because of insurance restrictions. Strollers are permitted but are asked to start at the back of the race corral; the arboretum trails can be muddy and have damp plant debris, and participants using strollers are advised to ensure the stroller and passenger are suited for cool, rainy conditions.
Fundraising details are provided: the University District Food Bank fundraising page shows $7,217.81 raised toward a $25,000 goal (29% raised). The Food Bank’s reported 2025 activity includes serving over 123,000 households and 368,000 individuals, distributing 3.9 million pounds of food, and operating programs such as Home Delivery, Packs for Kids, satellite pantries, and the Apple a Day Café. The Food Bank’s FY 2025–26 budget is reported at approximately $4 million, with 36% allocated to food purchases.
As participants move through the course, the arboretum setting features large, mature trees with fall foliage, ponds, creeks, and open fields that reflect the Pacific Northwest landscape. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
