Waynesville Turkey Trot
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Waynesville Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot
The Waynesville Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving Day road event held on November 27, 2025, at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center (91 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, NC). The event features a single 5K race that starts and finishes at Weldon Gym and follows a clockwise loop around Lake Junaluska. Beneficiaries for 2025 include scholarships for the Haywood Schools Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Mountain Projects, Helene recovery, and other local Haywood County projects. The race is capped at 600 participants.
Logistics and race information
Entry fees vary by registration date, with lower rates offered during the earlier registration period and higher rates later. Packet pickup is scheduled the day before at Bosus Wine Shop in Waynesville and on race morning at Weldon Outdoor Gymnasium. All pre-registered runners who register by early November are guaranteed a shirt in their size; after that date shirts are on a limited basis. There will be one water station on course. Timing is electronic via a chip on the race bib; runners should wear the bib on the front. Well-behaved, vaccinated dogs on leashes are permitted and should start at the back of the pack. Indoor restrooms are adjacent to Weldon Gymnasium with supplemental portable toilets. Designated parking areas include the Bethea Welcome Center, Center for Evangelism, York Dining Commons, and the pool area on Melody Lane. The event has a no refund policy; transfers are allowed for a small processing fee. Awards are given to overall and Masters top finishers and to top three in multiple age groups; no double dipping is permitted. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
