More than 2,000 participants were registered for the annual “Lincolnwood Turkey Trot” 5K and 10K race in Lincolnwood, stepping off in what organizers say was a sell-out event.
Race Director Julie Glowacki, who is also a recreation supervisor for the Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department, told Pioneer Press the amount of registrants this year matched the 2024 count.
“This year it will be a sell-out race,” said Glowacki about what is billed as a chip-timed, USA Track & Field-certified 5K and 10K.
Penelope Hutchison, from left, Lincolnwood police Chief Jay Parrott and Danielle Stryjak lead the 100-yard Drumstick Dash Nov. 23, 2025 at the annual “Turkey Trot” 5K and 10K race at Proesel Park in Lincolnwood. (Talia Sprague/for Pioneer Press)
Collin Frye, of Park Ridge, won the men’s 5K category of the “Turkey Trot” 5K and 10K race held Nov. 23, 2025 at Proesel Park in Lincolnwood. (Talia Sprague/for Pioneer Press)
The Lincolnwood tradition, which also includes a 5K fitness walk and “Drumstick Dash” open to ages 6 and younger, began and ended in Proesel Park.
“The goal of our event is to really bring the community together, not just the Lincolnwood community but surrounding communities as well,” Glowacki said.
Glowacki said this year’s event, emceed by Dave Kappas, included participants from Skokie, Niles, Evanston, Park Ridge and Elgin, and Chicago neighborhoods such as Sauganash.
According to Glowacki, this 49th year of the race also has drawn registrants from Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Brazil.
“It’s pretty cool to see how far people will come out for this race. It’s really energizing,” Glowacki said.
The majority of participants did the 5K run, which Glowacki said just days before the race’s start had around 1,200 registrants for the 3.1-mile course while the 10K run had about 440 racers. The 5K walk had nearly 400 registrants and the Drumstick Dash had around 100 sign-ups as of the days immediately preceding the race.
“It’s about bringing families in the community together on a Sunday morning, plus a kickoff to the holiday season. Thanksgiving is a few days later,” Glowacki said. “It gets us in the spirit of being together and celebrating winter holidays together.”
Rebecca Markham, of Palatine, wins the women’s 5K category in the annual “Turkey Trot” 5K and 10K race Nov. 23, 2025 at Proesel Park in Lincolnwood. (Talia Sprague/for Pioneer Press)
According to Glowacki, the 2025 Turkey Trot had about 100 volunteers, including village staffers lending their time during their off-hours, groups of friends needing school service hours, and Lincolnwood Baseball Association and Lincolnwood Girl Scouts both assisting at water stops.
“We rely heavily on them,”Glowacki said about volunteers. “We absolutely need them. They are wonderful. They keep our runners safe and they keep our streets safe.”
Glowacki said each participant who completed the flat course received a finisher’s medal while first-, second- and third-place male and female finishers in each distance and age division ranging from the low 1 to 14 to the high 85 to 89 also get race medals.
Eight overall winners – which Glowacki broke down as the fastest male and female finishers in the 5K and 10K and fastest male and female Lincolnwood resident finishers in the 5K and 10K – also received coffee mugs commemorating their achievements.
“We get people that do this every single year, a lot of repeat participants, as well as a lot of new people,” Glowacki said.
The Turkey Trot, which Glowacki said raises money to support Parks and Recreation Departmen programs, also features a coat drive and a toiletry drive for Niles Township.
“It really brings all of the village staff together,” Glowacki said. “We all come together for race day.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
