COLUMBUS, Ga. - Three running events are listed for Columbus on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, including a nighttime glow run, a half marathon at Rotary Park and a school-sponsored turkey trot offering medals and turkeys to winners. According to race listings published by FindTheRun, the Light Up the Valley 5K Glow Run is scheduled for Friday evening at Cascade Hills Church, while the Gobbler 5K, 10K and Half Marathon and the 12th Annual Viking Turkey Trot are scheduled for Saturday. The listings provide locations, selected activities and some registration information, but participants should confirm dates, times, fees and registration availability with the event organizers because the information comes from third-party race websites rather than verified organizer announcements.

Friday, Nov. 6: Light Up the Valley 5K Glow Run

The Light Up the Valley 5K Glow Run is listed for Friday, Nov. 6, at Cascade Hills Church, 727 54th St. in Columbus, according to FindTheRun. The event includes a Kids Fun Run scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and a 5K scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The race listing identifies the event as a glow run supporting the autism community.

According to the listing, registration includes entry into the race, an event T-shirt and glow gear. The description connects the event with support for the autism community and refers to the Autism Hope Center, which provides free resources to the autism community and relies on donations. The listing does not explicitly identify the event organizer or establish the Autism Hope Center as the formal beneficiary of race proceeds.

The registration page lists enrollment as open through Friday, Nov. 6, according to FindTheRun. However, the listing does not give a registration price. Participants seeking to register should confirm current availability and any fees directly through the event's registration process.

The children's run precedes the evening 5K, giving the Friday event two separately listed starting times. Families attending the Kids Fun Run have a published starting time of 6:30 p.m., while the main race is listed for 7 p.m. Both times come from the third-party listing and should be confirmed with the organizers before attending.

Saturday, Nov. 7: Gobbler Races at Rotary Park

The Gobbler 5K, 10K and Half Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Rotary Park in Columbus, according to FindTheRun. The event listing identifies three race distances, including a half marathon, and describes the gathering as a small local event with a relaxed community atmosphere. The listing does not provide a street address for Rotary Park.

Unlike the Friday glow run, the Gobbler event offers a choice among three listed distances. The 5K and 10K are shorter options than the half marathon, although the source does not provide separate start times for each race. The listing also does not establish whether all three distances will begin together or at different times.

The event description includes several operational details that distinguish it from the other races listed for the weekend. According to FindTheRun, emergency medical services personnel will not be stationed on-site, and water will be available only at the finish area of each lap. Those details are provided in the race description and are important distinctions from events that may use other arrangements.

The Gobbler listing references US Road Running in its event description and directs registration through RunSignUp. It does not explicitly identify a named organizer, and the listing does not include an entry fee or starting time. Runners should use the registration page to confirm the current schedule and any remaining registration options.

Saturday: Viking Turkey Trot Returns for 12th Year

The 12th Annual Viking Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run is also listed for Saturday, Nov. 7, according to FindTheRun. The event is organized by St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School and is scheduled to start and finish on Deimel Field at 2020 Kay Circle in Columbus. The race includes a 5K and a 1-mile fun run.

According to the event listing, proceeds support the Vikings Booster Club and student-athletes, with special support directed toward Cross Country and Soccer. The school-sponsored race combines running activities with fundraising for those athletic programs. The description identifies the beneficiary programs but does not provide a projected fundraising total.

The listing encourages participants to wear turkey-themed or Viking attire during the event. It also identifies post-race snacks and drinks as part of the activities. Neither the exact 5K starting time nor the entry fee appears in the listing.

The Turkey Trot listing provides specific information about both advance packet pickup and Saturday morning packet pickup. It also includes detailed descriptions of awards for overall finishers and age-group placements. Those arrangements are listed by FindTheRun and should be confirmed with the school before the event.

Turkey Trot Winners Receive Medals and Turkeys

The Viking Turkey Trot's awards include both medals and turkeys for designated winners, according to its FindTheRun listing. The overall top male and female finishers will each receive a medal and a turkey. The top male and female finishers in each age group are also listed as receiving a medal and a turkey.

Additional medals will be awarded to runners who finish second or third in their respective age groups. The listing distinguishes those placements from the first-place awards that include a turkey. It does not provide the specific age-group divisions.

These awards are part of the school event's published race description rather than a general prize structure for the entire weekend. This prize information applies to the Viking Turkey Trot listing only. Participants should distinguish the Viking Turkey Trot's medal-and-turkey prizes from the arrangements for the other two races.

Packet Pickup, Registration and Parking Details

The Viking Turkey Trot provides an advance packet pickup opportunity on Friday, Nov. 6, from 2 to 6 p.m., according to FindTheRun. Pickup is listed at The Beck Center, 1801 Box Road in Columbus. The advance pickup takes place the day before the Saturday race.

For participants collecting materials on Saturday, the race listing says packet pickup and day-of registration begin at 7:30 a.m. The event starts and finishes on Deimel Field at 2020 Kay Circle. Parking is designated in the school/church lot on Kay Circle, according to the listing.

The registration information also identifies an additional T-shirt charge tied to the registration date. According to FindTheRun, shirts purchased after Oct. 23 cost $10 at packet pickup or on race day, with limited sizes available. That charge concerns the T-shirt purchase and should not be interpreted as the event's registration fee.

Although the Turkey Trot listing references day-of registration, the exact current availability of registration has not been independently confirmed through an organizer announcement. The listing also does not give the Saturday race starting time. Participants should confirm those details directly with St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School before attending.

Race Weekend Schedule at a Glance

The three events cover Friday evening and Saturday, with different starting points and race formats. FindTheRun provides a Friday evening schedule for the Glow Run and Saturday dates for the Gobbler and Viking Turkey Trot. The following table summarizes the information published in those listings.

The published information does not establish entry fees for any of the three events. It also does not confirm whether late registration remains available for every race. Dates, times and registration details from these third-party race listings should be verified through the organizers or their registration systems.

Another Columbus Race Listed for Nov. 21

The Columbus race calendar on FindTheRun also lists the Beat the Bird 5K and 10K for Saturday, Nov. 21. That event is listed separately from the Nov. 6-7 race weekend. The calendar identifies the date and Columbus location, and this story has no additional event details.

The Nov. 21 listing provides another scheduled running event later in the month, according to the race calendar. This story does not include a registration fee, starting time or specific venue for Beat the Bird. The calendar date should therefore be treated as a listing rather than an independently confirmed organizer schedule.

For the Nov. 6-7 events, the available sources remain the individual FindTheRun race pages, including the RunSignUp registration reference for the Gobbler and the school-sponsored Turkey Trot information. These sources identify the published schedule and event arrangements but do not confirm every detail needed for participation. Registration status, race starting times not listed and event fees should be confirmed with the respective organizers.