Events & Festivals
The Mighty Gobbler in Troy: A Family Thanksgiving Morning Run in 2026
Troy's family-friendly Thanksgiving morning tradition returns Thursday, November 26, 2026, with a 1-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K at 9 a.m., and strollers and dogs are welcome.
The Mighty Gobbler is Troy's Thanksgiving morning running event, and the 2026 edition takes place Thursday, November 26, on the city's east side near 3290 West Big Beaver Road. It is the 12th annual running, hosted by Lutheran Church of the Master, and it pairs a 1-mile family fun run at 8:30 a.m. with a USATF-certified 5K at 9 a.m.
The event is built for all ages. The 1-mile fun run is the family option, and the official event notes that strollers, walkers, and well-mannered dogs are welcome, which makes it one of the more comfortable races to attempt with young children on Thanksgiving morning. The 5K is the only USATF-certified 5K course in Michigan held on Thanksgiving Day, which gives the runners in the family a real race while the shorter distance keeps the morning open to everyone else.
The start line is in the parking lot in front of 3290 West Big Beaver Road, with race-day packet pickup beginning at 7:30 a.m. Early packet pickup runs Wednesday, November 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Master, 3333 Coolidge Highway, and online registration closes Tuesday, November 24, at midnight on the event's RunSignup page, with in-person registration available at packet pickup and on race morning.
A portion of proceeds supports local nonprofit partners, this year Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers and Micah 6 Community of Pontiac, and canned-good donations collected at the event go to Troy People Concerned. The organizers say the Mighty Gobbler has donated more than $120,000 to community organizations since it started in 2015.
For families considering Troy as home, a Thanksgiving morning that becomes a shared neighborhood tradition is a small example of how the community comes together. The official event site at mightygobbler.com carries registration, the full schedule, and any updates as the date approaches, and that is the page to check before race day.
Sources: Mighty Gobbler official website (mightygobbler.com) and the event's RunSignup page. Information verified October 22, 2026.