Stephanie Spear Thousands of Arlington runners and walkers will take to the streets on Thanksgiving morning, some wearing themed costumes, all in celebration of community. The Arlington Turkey Trot will celebrate its 20th year, kicking off another fundraising cycle to support local community organizations. The Fairfax Girl chatted with Cortney Weber, Race Director, about the race’s history, impact, and future. Read on for more about the Arlington Turkey Trot.
About the Race
The Arlington Turkey Trot is a fun, family-friendly 5K race event with a race course that winds through several North Arlington neighborhoods. The first event, organized by Christ Church of Arlington in 2006, drew 300 runners. Now, the event is capped at 4,000 participants, and the race supports a network of Arlington non-profit organizations.
Photo courtesy of the Arlington Turkey Trot
Over time, the event has raised over $1 million for local community organizations in Arlington. “The best part is that the race is entirely run by volunteers,” Race Director Cortney Weber said. “Every single person that you see out there who is directing you or handing you your packet or handing you your bib, that is 100% a volunteer.”
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Even though the race’s course is certified by the US Track and Field Association, the focus is on community. “It is 100% about the philanthropic aspect,” Cortney said. “We get runners, of course, but there are people out there walking as a family, they have a baby in a stroller, and we allow dogs on leashes. Everyone is out there to support the event.”
Beneficiaries
As the race grew, so did the intricacies of getting funds raised to the right recipients. Race organizers have partnered with Arlington Bridge Builders, an interdenominational network of faith-based organizations working with each other, individuals, non-profits, businesses, and civic agencies to support the community.
Now, instead of one or two beneficiary organizations, 10 local organizations will receive funds from the race. “We had 30 organizations apply, and selected 10,” Cortney said. “This means we can highlight more organizations, especially smaller ones that are still serving the community but may not get as much attention.” The ‘year’ kicks off with the trot, which is the main fundraising event. “And that’s what’s really beautiful about this. It’s not just about the race. We’re actually solving problems within the community, which is awesome,” Cortney said.
Photo courtesy of the Arlington Turkey Trot
The ten beneficiaries this year are:
- The Arlington Animal Welfare League
- Arlington Thrive
- Bridges to Independence
- Center for Youth + Family Advocacy
- Doorways
- L’Arche Greater Washington DC
- Offender Aid + Restoration
- Path Forward
- Rock Recovery
- Young Life Capernaum
Then, each beneficiary organization is paired with one of the partners organizations through Arlington Bridge Builders. “The goal is to build community throughout the year,” Cortney said. Each partner organization will get to present information about its mission to its respective church. “You get the beneficiaries together with the nonprofits have a targeted audience who want to learn more about them. The church is getting people more involved within the community, and the mission for Arlington Bridgebuilders is to get more people involved with these nonprofits.”
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The application cycle has already started for the 2026 partner organizations. “This is a big change for the trot,” Cortney said. “But there are so many great organizations in Arlington doing amazing work, and this way we get to support more of them. The trot really has become this institution within Arlington and has become this vehicle for doing a lot of good.”
What to Expect
Cortney said that even if the thought of running a 5K is daunting, this trot is less about the miles run than the good vibes shared. “Everybody is out there and its on a holiday. We have the county board out there. We have school board members out there. The sheriff is out there. The chief of police is out there. Everybody in the community shows up. Everyone is kind. It is the truest sense of just pure community kindness and thankfulness.”
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“The feeling that you really get walking away from the trot is that you’re just thankful and grateful to live somewhere like this, where everyone comes together,” Cortney continued. “ Last year, it was raining and we still had 2,800 people across the finish line and people were cheering, people were smiling, nobody was complaining – I was amazed.”
Photo courtesy of the Arlington Turkey Trot
The race is open to runners, walkers, strollers, and leashed dogs. And if none of that is appealing, Cortney said that the race is always looking for more volunteers and cash donations. “There are so many ways to get involved and support the event without having to actually run,” she said.
For more information or to sign up for the run, please visit the Arlington Turkey Trot website.
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