Turkey Trots and Thanksgiving Week Fun in Harford County (2026)

by Josh Tessier

Published Oct. 21, 2026 | Last updated: Oct. 21, 2026

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and Harford County has two big turkey trots that morning. The Y Turkey Trot 5K starts in downtown Bel Air at 8 a.m. The Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot starts at the STAR Centre in Havre de Grace at 8 a.m.

Sign up early. The Bel Air race price goes up after Oct. 30. Below you'll find both races, plus library crafts, a Thanksgiving Eve barn dance, a free Thanksgiving dinner and what to do that weekend.

Young runners in winter hats and race bibs running a Thanksgiving morning turkey trot 5K — *A Thanksgiving morning turkey trot. This photo is from Des Moines, Iowa, not Harford County.*
Photo: “2021 Des Moines Turkey Trot” by Phil Roeder, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.

What turkey trots are in Harford County on Thanksgiving 2026?

Two. Both are on Thursday, Nov. 26, and both start at 8 a.m.

Race	Town	Start spot	Distances	Price (with fees)
Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K, Bel Air	Bel Air	McComas Funeral Home, 50 W. Broadway	5K	Adults $44.46 through Oct. 30, then $48.70
Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot	Havre de Grace	STAR Centre, 700 Congress Ave.	5K or 1 mile	5K $33.74 through Nov. 8, then $39.03

Y Turkey Trot 5K in Bel Air

The Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K is the big one. You walk or run through downtown Bel Air. The money helps local families with food and bills.

When: Thu., Nov. 26, 8 a.m.
Where: Starts at McComas Funeral Home, 50 W. Broadway, Bel Air.
Cost: $44.46 for adults through Oct. 30. Then it's $48.70 until Nov. 22, and $50.82 after that. Kids 6 and under are $6.30. Kids 7 to 17 are $24.32 through Oct. 30. Prices include sign-up fees.
Parking: The Y says to use the Courtland Street Garage, the Harford Mutual lot or anywhere in town that's not on the course.
New this year: Start-line corrals. You get your corral when you pick up your packet. Get there early.
Dogs: The Y says your pup is welcome.

Packet pickup (shirt and bib). The Y asks you to grab it early because race-day lines get long. You can pick up for friends and family if you have their first and last names.

Mon., Nov. 23 and Tue., Nov. 24, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., at the Ward Y in Abingdon, 101 Walter Ward Blvd.
Wed., Nov. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., same place.
Thu., Nov. 26, 7-7:30 a.m., in the McComas Funeral Home lot in Bel Air.

Bel Air has a sign-up limit, so don't wait on this one.

Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot in Havre de Grace

This is the old Bulle Rock Turkey Trot with a new name and a new home. 2026 is its 20th year. It now starts in downtown Havre de Grace at the STAR Centre, 700 Congress Ave. Money raised goes to the Susquehanna Hose Company of Havre de Grace.

When: Thu., Nov. 26. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. The 1-mile fun run starts at 8:15 a.m.
Cost (with fees): 5K is $33.74 through Nov. 8, then $39.03. The 1 mile is $28.45, then $33.74. Kids 10 and under pay $28.45 for the 5K or $17.87 for the 1 mile through Nov. 8.
Awards: Top 3 men and women overall, plus top 3 in each age group, starting at 10 and under. In-person runners only.
Can't make it? Do the virtual 5K anytime from Wed., Nov. 25 to Sun., Nov. 29. They ship your race packet to you. The virtual 5K is $39.03.
Timing: Chip timing by Blue Cheetah Sports Timing.
Sign up: Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot on RunSignup.

What Thanksgiving crafts can kids do at the library?

Harford County Public Library has a few free Thanksgiving activities in November. All are posted by the library itself.

Thankful Turkey, Joppa Library, Nov. 2-30. Pick a paper feather, write what you're thankful for and add it to the turkey. Drop in any time the library is open. 655 Towne Center Dr.
Potato Parade, Aberdeen Library, Thu., Nov. 12, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Kids in grades 3 to 8 turn potatoes into mini parade floats. The floats go on display before Thanksgiving. Sign-up opens Oct. 29.
Thanksgiving Craft, Norrisville Library, Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Drop in and make a craft. Supplies are free while they last. 5310 Norrisville Rd., White Hall.
Plaid Thanksgiving Wreath, Jarrettsville Library, Wed., Nov. 18, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Make a plaid wreath for your door. This one's for teens in grades 9 to 12 and adults. Sign-up opens Nov. 2.

Heads up: every HCPL branch closes at 5 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 25, and stays closed Thu., Nov. 26 and Fri., Nov. 27.

Thanksgiving Week 2026 key dates in Harford County, including turkey trots, packet pickup and tree farm openings — *Key dates as of Oct. 21, 2026. Times and prices can change, so check before you go.*

Graphic: joshtalksharford.com. Background photo: "2021 Des Moines Turkey Trot" by Phil Roeder, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped, text added.

What's happening on Thanksgiving Eve in Harford County?

Two very different nights out on Wed., Nov. 25.

Fall Barn Dance at Deer Creek Overlook, Street. This one's a date night. The bands Never Never and Lodi play the Harford County 4-H camp at 6 Cherry Hill Rd. There are raffles and a money tree, and food and drinks are for sale. Tickets are $25 online ahead of time or $30 at the door. It's 21 and up. The start time isn't posted yet. Confirm before you go.
Thanksgiving Hymn Sing, North Harford Baptist Church, Jarrettsville, 7-8 p.m. An hour of singing hymns together. It's free, and you don't need a ticket. 4008 Old Federal Hill Rd. Confirm before you go.

Is there a free Thanksgiving dinner in Harford County?

Yes. Mountain Christian Church's Aberdeen campus serves a free, home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner on Thu., Nov. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. It's at The EPICENTER, 21 Aberdeen Shopping Plaza, Aberdeen. No sign-up. It's first come, first served.

Want to give back as a family? The church is also looking for volunteers to serve that day. Shifts are on its event page. Confirm before you go.

What can you do the weekend after Thanksgiving?

Lots. The Christmas season starts that Friday. Here are the highlights. I have the full details in my Harford County Christmas events guide.

Fri., Nov. 27

Jarrettsville Nurseries opens for Christmas trees in Street. Santa is there on opening day and weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Confirm before you go.
Jones Family Farm starts choose-and-cut, also in Street. Confirm before you go.
Holiday Train Garden at The Luckiest Light, 220 N. Washington St., Havre de Grace, opens. Fridays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays noon-8 p.m., Sundays noon-4 p.m. Confirm before you go.
Chris Pinnella: Christmas by Candlelight, STAR Centre, Havre de Grace, 8 p.m. Ticketed. Good date-night pick.

Sat., Nov. 28

Small Business Saturday in downtown Bel Air.
Belle Aire Holiday Market, 121 S. Main St., Bel Air, 9 a.m.-noon. Free.
Winter Wonderland opening night, Bel Air, 5-8 p.m. The lights go on, and Santa is at Office and Main streets. Free. More in my Santa guide.
Tidewater Players: A Christmas Spectacular!, Havre de Grace Opera House, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. A family musical. Confirm before you go.

Want a tree that weekend? See my Christmas tree farms in Harford County guide.

My quick plan for Thanksgiving week

Sign up for your turkey trot now. Bel Air goes up after Oct. 30. Havre de Grace goes up after Nov. 8.
Grab your Y packet on Nov. 23, 24 or 25 in Abingdon. Skip the race-morning line.
Take the kids to a library craft before the holiday.
Run Thursday morning, then go eat way too much pie. That's the whole point of the 5K, right?
Kick off Christmas that weekend in Bel Air or Havre de Grace.

Moving to Harford County, or just looking around? Text me at (443) 617-2099. Happy to help.

FAQ

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Both Harford County turkey trots, in Bel Air and Havre de Grace, are that morning at 8 a.m.

How much is the Bel Air Turkey Trot in 2026?

The Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K in Bel Air costs $44.46 for adults with fees through Oct. 30, 2026. It goes up to $48.70 on Oct. 31 and $50.82 on Nov. 23. Kids 6 and under are $6.30, and kids 7 to 17 are $24.32 through Oct. 30.

Where do I pick up my Bel Air Turkey Trot packet?

At the Ward Y in Abingdon, 101 Walter Ward Blvd., on Nov. 23 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On race morning, pickup is 7 to 7:30 a.m. in the McComas Funeral Home lot in Bel Air.

What happened to the Bulle Rock Turkey Trot?

It's now called the Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot. For its 20th year, it moved to the STAR Centre, 700 Congress Ave., in downtown Havre de Grace, with an 8 a.m. start on Nov. 26, 2026. It still benefits the Susquehanna Hose Company.

Is there a virtual turkey trot in Harford County?

Yes. The Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot has a virtual 5K you can finish anytime from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2026, and it ships your race packet to you. The Y Turkey Trot also has a virtual 5K.

Are Harford County libraries open on Thanksgiving?

No. Harford County Public Library branches close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, and are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has 16+ years in real estate and has sold 550+ homes personally. He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here.