12th Annual Surfin’ Turkey 5K is returning to Hatteras on Thanksgiving Day, and there’s still time to join in the fun

The 12th annual Surfin’ Turkey 5K is returning to Hatteras Village on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, and there is still time to sign up for this popular holiday event.

The Surfin’ Turkey 5K is the only fundraising event for 2023 hosted by the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund (HIYEF), which supports the educational needs of students on Hatteras Island by providing equipment, materials, and experiences that would otherwise not be available through public funding.

During the 2022-2023 school year, HIYEF provided more than $55,000 to Hatteras Island’s two Cape Hatteras Schools for a variety of requested needs.

The annual Thanksgiving event, (which includes both the Surfin’ Turkey 5K and the Puppy Drum Fun Run), features a number of enticements for participants, including a goody bag, T-shirt, and post-race celebration. Costumes are encouraged, and folks can walk, jog, or run at their leisure through the scenic course that winds through the heart of historic Hatteras Village.

Online registration is currently open, and the Surfin’ Turkey 5K begins at 8:00 a.m. while the Puppy Drum Fun Run launches at 9:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.

The Puppy Drum Fun Run is free to kids 10 and under with a suggested two-can donation to the local food pantry, and all participants are encouraged to bring goods to donate to the food pantry as well.

Online registration is only available from 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race, so folks are encouraged to sign up in advance. The Surfin’ Turkey packet pick-up will be on Wednesday, November 22, from 4-6 p.m. at the Hatteras Village Civic Center.

For more information on the charity event, visit the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund’s website at https://www.hatterasyouth.com/surfin-turkey-5k.

To sign up for your spot on the starting line, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Hatteras/SurfinTurkey5KandPuppyDrumRun.