PHOTOS: ‘The smiles and spirit were contagious:’ Turkey Trot in Cobourg nets $8,000

Organizer Rod Simpson gives out the Golden Drumstick Award for the best turkey spirit. 2026 winner was Angus MacDonald for his spirit in helping from the sidelines by encouraging all participants. Angus MacDonald is seen here with all his gifts. /Tim Burgess photos

By reporter Natalie Hamilton

From watching the wee “gobble wobblers” who were four years old and younger to dishing out the “golden drumstick” award to the person with the best costume, kids and adults embraced all-things turkey in Cobourg for a cause on Thanksgiving Day.

The annual Northumberland Turkey Trot was a success, attracting 557 participants and raising more than $8,000 for YMCA Northumberland’s “Strong Communities” campaign.

The annual Turkey Trot fundraiser made for some great photo-ops.

The Turkey Trot encompasses walks, trots and runs of various lengths and a buffet of turkey-related fun.

“The smiles and spirit were contagious,” said Rod Simpson, organizer of the event.

Gobbler participants had some fun in the Cobourg Conservation Area during the annual Turkey Trot fundraiser on Monday.

Highlights from the day included selling out both the 2.5-kilometre and five-kilometre events with 400 participants and nearly filling the kids’ races – including 27 little “gobble wobblers” and 130 at the kids’ one-kilometre start line, noted Simpson.

Happy finishers of the Gobbler 5K and 2.5 K Run/Walk. All participants were timed from the start to the finish line.

There were more than 600 people in the park behind the YMCA’s facility on D’Arcy Street to take in the fun, including volunteers and spectators.

“The energy and community spirit were truly inspiring,” added Simpson.

Left-to-right: Krystel Gauthier, Sara Cogswell, Kenzie Chase, and Andrew Huang decided last minute through a group chat to put a team into the Turkey Trot. This is their first year.

The Strong Communities campaign is “helping to transform lives right here in our community.”

The Northumberland Turkey Trot aims to provide a fun, safe way for people to be active while enjoying the community. By contributing to the Strong Communities campaign, participants are supporting area children, teens, adults and seniors in need of assistance by eliminating financial barriers.

Participants of the Gobbler 5K and 2.5 K Run/Walk had a great view of fall colours through the Cobourg Conservation Area.

“Together, we can build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities,” he said.

The Turkey Trot has become a Thanksgiving tradition that has grown over the past 15 years from 58 people partaking in 2012 and raising $309 in the initial event, to the hundreds that took part in this year’s installment and raised substantially more.

Participant Michelle Thompson dressed as an inflatable turkey had lots of attention from young attendees. The mugs on the table were given out to the top three finishers in all divisions.

“People come and we just try to keep it light and fun.”  

The start of the Wing Ding one-kilometre Kids’ Fun Run. All kids got a medal for completing the untimed run.