On Thanksgiving morning, the streets of Elizabethtown will be overrun with people chasing turkeys. The Great Turkey Chase will be held on Thursday, Nov. 24, beginning at the Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, 996 E. High St. Registration will open at 6:45 a.m., and the race will start at 8:15 a.m.

As race director Grace Wells explained, participants won't really be chasing turkeys during the 5K run/walk. "We will have stuffed turkeys located throughout the course, and when people find one, they can bring it to the end of the race and we'll have frozen turkeys for them," she shared.

The event was formerly called the Great Turkey Hunt, but Wells noted that the name was changed this year for clarity. "The feedback we received made it sound like it was a hunting event, and we wanted to be clear that it's a race event," she said.

Prizes will be awarded in various age groups, including age 14 and under and ages 15 to 19, and then in 10-year groups up to age 80-plus. "We have gotten 80-plus-year-olds who participated in the past, and I want to be sure we recognize them for coming out," Wells said.

New this year, the event will feature a kids' run, beginning at 9:15 a.m. The kids' course will feature an approximately 1-mile run, with the possibility of shorter distances as well, depending on the turnout. "I've always loved kids' runs, and last year, we were working with ECHOS to set up the race, and they suggested adding one, so I decided to go for it this year," Wells said. The kids' run will be sponsored by The Tatted Toy Guys in Elizabethtown.

Although the event is not being coordinated with ECHOS this year, proceeds from the race will still benefit the organization, Wells remarked. ECHOS provides family and individual supportive services, information and resources, eviction prevention and diversion, emergency shelter programs, job readiness and workforce development and more.

Last year, 169 runners participated in the race, and Wells noted that she hopes to reach 200 participants in this year's event.

"It's a very friendly course, very manageable," she said. "It's a fun family event that even the youngest ones can do. If they can't do the 5K, they can participate in the kids' run, or we also have a lot of parents who push their kids in strollers. It's a nice thing to do with your family before you go home and eat your Thanksgiving meal."

For more information on the Great Turkey Chase or to register, visit https://runsignup.com and search for "Great Turkey Chase 5K." Online registration will end at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23, but people may register in person at the event.