On Thursday, Nov. 27, the first annual San Anselmo Tutu Turkey Trot took place on Thanksgiving morning at Wade Thomas Elementary School. At 8:30 a.m., over 600 parents, children, and other participants gathered at the starting line to begin the race. Runners who finished the race celebrated with coffee provided by the San Anselmo Coffee Roastery, hot chocolate, doughnut holes, and a live DJ.
The trot was open to runners of all backgrounds. Experienced runners ran the five-kilometer race, which followed blue marker posts around San Anselmo, leading to a longer course. Pink markers directed runners in the 2.2-mile run, a milder option for older adults, parents with strollers or dogs, and younger children with scooters or bikes. Regardless of the race intensity, nearly all runners wore colorful tutus with the exception of participants in turkey hats and inflatable turkey costumes.
Staying true to its name, the Tutu Turkey Trot awarded the first-place winners of the 5K and the 2.2-mile race with golden tutus.
The Turkey Trot was a fundraiser for the YES Foundation, which supports arts, music, and education in Ross Valley School District (RVSD) schools, including Wade Thomas. All profits from the 22 dollar entry fee went directly to the YES foundation.
Jessica White and Michael Crain, co-organisers of the San Anselmo Tutu Turkey Trot, both have children who are either current or past RVSD students. In August, White introduced the idea to Crain, who has organized races in the past. Together, they registered for approval from Wade Thomas and a permit from the Town of San Anselmo for the trot, ultimately receiving both.
“There are turkey trots that happen all across the country, and I thought it was funny that this very active and sporty town does not have a turkey trot… and I thought, we should do one for San Anselmo,” White said.
Adult volunteers powered the event, including White’s 99-year-old grandmother, who oversaw the coffee station. Volunteers posted along the route directed traffic and guided runners in the 5K and the 2.2-mile. Jordan Moore, a volunteer posted at an intersection to direct and cheer on the runners, found that the trot went smoothly.
“All the cars were really respectful, all the runners were really respectful. Everything was really smooth… [There was] high energy, good vibes, lots of people dressed in tutus,” Moore said.
As it was their first time hosting the Tutu Turkey Trot, White and Crain weren’t expecting as many runners as there were; in fact, there were three times as many runners as they anticipated.
“When we first conceived of this idea, we thought it would be a wild success if we got 200 people, [but] the registrations just kept piling in, and we had even more last night, even more this morning, so we’ll be well over 600 for this event,” White said.
Many Archie Williams students supported the fundraiser by running in the trot. Junior Sophie Macdonald participated in her first-ever trot with her freshman sister, Marlow Macdonald.
“[The run] was super fun. I really loved it. Everyone shows up, shows out, and [there were] a bunch of fun outfits and good vibes,” Sophie said.
Family and friends of San Anselmo residents came to support the cause, making it one of the largest fundraisers in YES history. Emily Elder, a former RVSD parent, ran the 5K with her daughter, Norah Elder, a current Archie Williams sophomore. Running alongside her friends gave Emily a boost toward the finish line.
“I haven’t run in a long time, so it was a little bit of a struggle… But it was definitely fun to run with friends; it helps you get over the finish line,” Elder said.
With turnout of over 400 more than originally planned, White hopes to make the Tutu Turkey Trot an annual tradition for San Anselmo. Next year, she would like to add an art contest for students and appeal to high school volunteers in search of service hours. The next San Anselmo Tutu Turkey Trot will be on Thanksgiving 2026, with plans to continue for years to come.
