O'side Turkey Trot
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O’side Turkey Trot : event overview
The O’side Turkey Trot is a community 5K run/walk and kids run held in Oceanside, California on Thanksgiving Day. The 2025 edition is the 20th annual event. Distances offered include:
- 5K (two separate 5K waves)
- Double Dip 5K - complete both 5Ks for a bonus medal
- Kids 1 Mile
- Kids 1/5 Mile
The course starts near the Civic Center on North Coast Highway and finishes on the Strand behind the amphitheater at the Oceanside Pier. The event includes a costume contest, live entertainment on course, finisher medals and shirts for registered participants, free race photos, chip timing, and live results. There is a team competition that awards gift certificates to the top five largest teams.
Logistics, awards and charity
Packet pick-up and an expo are held the day before at the Junior Seau Beach Community Center and race morning at the Civic Center / pier area. Parking is free in city lots on Thanksgiving morning and a complimentary shuttle will run from designated lots to the start area.
The event features a prize purse totaling $3,000. Cash awards include $750 for 1st, $500 for 2nd, and $250 for 3rd (male and female), plus performance bonuses. Prize eligibility requires participation in the Main Wave 5K. Age group awards are given for multiple male and female categories in the 5K and kids races. The primary nonprofit beneficiary is the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank; 10% of 5K registration fees go to selected charities and the event has raised over $500,000 for local organizations since 2006. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.