Kick Off Thanksgiving Morning at the 25th Annual Run for Hope 5K in Balboa Park
Balboa Park has a great Thanksgiving morning tradition, and 2026 marks 25 years of it. The Run for Hope Thanksgiving Day 5K sends runners and walkers across Cabrillo Bridge before the turkey even hits the oven – and the whole event benefits Father Joe’s Villages Food Services Program, which provides meals to San Diegans experiencing homelessness. It’s the kind of morning that earns the feast.
25 Years Running Through One of San Diego’s Best Parks
The milestone edition keeps everything that’s made this a San Diego Thanksgiving staple. Timed runners get chip timing, live results, and age group awards. Fun runners walk, jog, or trot at their own pace – no pressure, no clock. Everyone goes home with a commemorative T-shirt, a finisher medal, and free race photos. Kids five and under run free.
Entry options start at $57.08 for fun runners and $62.48 for timed runners, with a virtual option at $46.28 for those outside San Diego and kids’ rates available for ages six to 12.
A Festival Waiting at the Finish Line
Cross the finish and head to Plaza de Panama for the Race Day Festival – local vendors, live music, a beverage garden, and characters for the little ones. It runs for a full two hours after the race starts, so there’s time to grab something and stay a while. For early risers, an optional Sunrise Mass kicks off at Plaza de Panama before the race begins.
Running for Father Joe’s Villages
Every registration supports Father Joe’s Villages and their food services program for neighbors experiencing homelessness in San Diego. The program served hundreds of thousands of meals in 2025, and this race is one of the ways the community keeps that work going.
See you there!
Thanksgiving morning in Balboa Park, 25 years running. There’s no better way to start the day before the feast – lace up and make it a tradition.
📆 Thursday, November 26 | Race: 7:15 AM | Festival: 8 AM – 10 AM
🎟️ Sign up here
ℹ️ Follow along on Instagram for updates
See you there, San Diego!
