A Thanksgiving Tradition: The Turkey Run!
When I was a little girl Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday. I loved the food and visiting with extended family. It wasn’t a one day affair, it was a four–day event full of fun and tradition! My grandmother and I even had our own tradition of making a ham, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole together on Wednesday night — they were our “must haves” that we weren’t going to risk not having room in the oven for! I always pictured the day as ‘tv perfect”, but one thing that always confused me. Those sitcoms we loved so much always showed “the guys” impatiently waiting for Thanksgiving dinner while they watched football. None of the men in my family watched football so I didn’t understand what that was about. The men in my family had a different tradition, “the Turkey Run.” As a child I imagined that meant turkeys running through a field? I had no idea what this meant at all, until I married a car guy and the Turkey Run became a tradition for the entire family!
The Turkey Run at Daytona International Speedway is the largest combined Collector Car Show, Swap Meet and Car Corral in the USA, and while I was left out of loop as a child, my husband has always been happiest to go if everyone was going with him! The Turkey Run is a family affair that everyone looks forward to.
This year’s 46th Annual Daytona Turkey Run is guaranteed to be another crowd-pleaser with Rick & Kelly Dale from “American Restoration” on the History Channel stopping in! My crew loves meeting real people from their favorite shows so I know they will be first in line! You can stop by to say hello too from 10am-2pm on Friday and Saturday.
What to do when your husband says
“Let’s go to the Turkey Run this weekend!”
Step 1: Say yes!!!
Step 2: Don’t panic! The Turkey Run is a lot of fun and there is PLENTY there for you to do too! Some of my favorite sights are the Artisan Alley vendors and FOOD trucks! Oh yes! The food! Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without great food, and neither is the Turkey Run! It’s like food trucks on parade! Turkey legs, fair favorites, gourmet burgers, tacos, oh my! Bring your appetite with you!
Step 3: Get your wagon ready! If you don’t have a wagon, get one! Really, a stroller isn’t nearly as much fun as tossing a few kids into a wagon! At the Turkey Run, you will see a LOT of wagons and you will wish you brought yours! Fill it with blankets, a comfy throw pillow, and a few of your kids’ favorite snacks! Oh, and don’t forget the kids, they will be sad if they miss out on the Little Gobbler’s Play Zone!
46th Annual Daytona Turkey Run Highlights
✓ Enjoy more than 6,000 classic cars for show and sale and a massive swap meet!
✓ Meet Rick & Kelly Dale from “American Restoration” on the History Channel on Friday, Nov 29th & Sat, Nov 30th from 10am-2pm.
✓ Taste more than 120 different beers from 48 different brands at the Hops & Hoods Craft Beer Festival on Saturday from 12pm-4pm.
✓ Be a part of the Mecum Mobile Experience and see first-hand what it’s like to be in the middle of a Mecum Auction.
✓ Meet Butch Patrick, Eddie Munster from iconic show “The Munsters.” Check out the Munster Koach & Dragula Tribute Hot Rod Display on Thursday, Nov 28th – Sunday, Dec 1st, during normal show hours.
✓ Fun for the Whole Family! Kids will love Little Gobbler’s Play Zone and have a blast in bounce houses, an obstacle course, inflatable games and more. All Play Zone activities are free of charge.
About the Daytona Turkey Run
The Daytona Turkey Run is open to the public and features more than 6,000 vintage, classic and custom, muscle cars, race cars and trucks on display and for sale, as well as a massive swap meet in which vendors sell and trade hard-to-find auto parts and accessories. There is also an Artisan Alley with fashion and art and a full midway of delicious food vendors. More than 150,000 attended the 45th Daytona Turkey Run.
The 46th Daytona Turkey Run is presented by White Diamond and is sponsored in part by Mecum Auctions and Spectrum. Admission is $15 Thursday through Saturday and $10 on Sunday with free parking. Children under 11 are free. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available at the Daytona Speedway all four days.
The Spring Turkey Run dates, March 27-29, 2020 were also just released.
For more information about the Daytona Turkey Run, visit www.TurkeyRun.com.
You made me wish that we lived close to a TURKEY RUN! This would be a fun filled day for sure
I have never heard of this event before but it looks quite fun.
What a cool seasonal event! And it would be great to see all the amazing cars!
Now this sounds like a whole lot of fun for the whole family! I have a neighbor that’s really into car shows and always tries to get us to join them. You’ve convinced me to at least give it a try and I’ll definitely have to ask him if he knows about this event.
this is so awesome
I think the Turkey Runs are great and are usually for a good cause. I have never been a “runner” but I have many family members and friends who are and I think it is great!
Great, this sounds like a nice idea which stayed the same through out many years.
This sound fun. We have a car club that meets at the Hardees on each Sunday.
This sounds like a really great time!