Thanksgiving morning in Fort Worth runs on two clocks. One is a registration price that steps on October 31. The other is a road closure at 6 a.m. on race day.
The entry clock
The Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot runs on Thursday, November 26, 2026 from General Worth Square at 916 Main Street. This is the 45th running of a race that started in 1981.
The 5K Timed costs $50 and the 8K Timed costs $55. Both rise after October 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CDT. The next tier carries no published figure. From October 26 the step sits five days out.
The Youth Gobbler Trot 1K Fun Run costs $30 and carries no published step. Its registration window closes November 26 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Four runners change the price. The organiser's FAQ offers group and family registration at $5 off per person for groups of 4 or more, which puts the 5K at $45 and the 8K at $50. The 1K carries no group tier. Adjustments apply at checkout.
The entry does not refund. The race refund policy page reads “Refunds are not allowed for this race.”
The two clocks on race morning
The 1K starts at 7:45 a.m. The 5K and the 8K start together at 8:30 a.m. All courses close at 10:30 a.m. Requests for course or time accommodation go to trot@ymcafw.org before November 10.
Road closures begin at 6 a.m. along parts of Commerce St., Houston St. and Lancaster Ave. The YMCA parking guide says roads typically reopen around 11 a.m., after the last runners finish.
One night, thirty days out
Thanksgiving Eve is Wednesday, November 25. A runner who stays that night reaches the 7:45 a.m. start on foot from a downtown room and clears the 6 a.m. closure. The stay is one night, November 25 into November 26. From October 26 it sits 30 days out.
Five downtown properties inside two tenths of a mile
Road distances run from 916 Main Street to the address in the hotelhuddle directory, read on 26 October.
Hilton Fort Worth, 815 Main St, 76102 — 0.09 mi.
The Ashton Hotel, 610 Main St, 76102 — 0.13 mi.
Courtyard Fort Worth Downtown/Blackstone, 601 Main St, 76102 — 0.14 mi.
The Sinclair, Autograph Collection, 512 Main St, 76102 — 0.19 mi.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Downtown, 600 Commerce St, 76102 — 0.19 mi.
Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Throckmorton St, 76102 — 0.30 mi.
AC Hotel Fort Worth Downtown, 101 W 5th St, 76102 — 0.35 mi.
Five of the seven sit inside two tenths of a mile of the square. The Omni sits at three tenths and the AC Hotel at 0.35.
Packet pickup runs to the Wednesday
Pickup runs Saturday, November 21 through Wednesday, November 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Luke's Locker at 5255 Monahans Ave hosts all five days. Monday and Tuesday add four YMCA sites: the Bedford Center at 2801 Shady Lake Dr, Northpark at 9100 N Beach St, Joshua Community at 1009 Joshua Station Blvd, and Hood County at 1475 James Rd in Granbury.
The Y publishes no race-morning pickup. A friend can collect a bib and shirt with the runner's name or QR code.
Parking before 6 a.m.
The Y parking guide names the garages it recommends. City Center Garage at 401 Calhoun St sits about a 10 minute walk from the square. Sundance Square Garage #3 at 345 W. 3rd St and Garage #4 at 265 W. 5th St sit 10 and 8 minutes out. The garage at City Place, 300 Throckmorton St, runs about 12 minutes. Sundance Square surface lots line 2nd and 3rd St. The Amon G. Carter Jr. Downtown YMCA at 512 Lamar St and First United Methodist Church at 800 W. 5th St sit 12 and 15 minutes out. Parking Systems of America operates at 1075 Calhoun St.
Accessible spaces sit near Houston St. and 9th St, and a placard is required. The guide asks runners to arrive early because garages fill.
The registration page FAQ answers the cost question with “Yes! We partner with several lots and garages throughout downtown Fort Worth that offer free parking for Turkey Trot participants.” The parking guide lists the garages and carries no rate for any of them. A runner who needs the charge confirmed should ask the operator.
What to ask the hotel
Three questions carry the stay. Confirm the checkout hour against a 10:30 a.m. course close and an 11 a.m. street reopening. Confirm whether the rate includes a garage space, and which garage. Confirm the cancellation deadline in writing, because the entry fee does not refund and the room should carry the flexibility.
One hotelhuddle request reaches 50+ Fort Worth hotels. Submitting costs nothing, the hotel pays the commission, and the rate carries no markup. Responses arrive within 24 to 72 hours. Group rates apply at 10 or more rooms per night, and some properties quote from 5.
Texas adds 6 percent state hotel occupancy tax. Cities, certain counties and special purpose districts add a local hotel tax, and the state tax code names Chapter 334 sports and community venue districts among the authorities that levy one. Ask for the all-in figure.