Through careful planning and volunteers pitching in, the Turkey Trot was brought to life once again. This Vienna event, and fundraiser for the Madison band program, takes place annually on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year, it fell on Sunday, Nov. 23. The start and finish line of the race was located at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Station, where band students were responsible for putting on the event.
This year marked the 23rd Turkey Trot, symbolizing the ongoing collaboration between Vienna organizations and the Madison community–specifically, the marching ensemble. Every member of the marching band and color guard was required to participate as a volunteer. Students could choose from a variety of jobs including serving water, passing out racer bibs and information, running the fun run with local kids, serving food and hot chocolate and guiding racers along the route. Some students also supported the fundraiser ahead of race day by handing out flyers to community members and distributing race packets. Even band parents were asked to pitch in as course marshals, station leaders and organizers.
“I love the Turkey Trot because it unifies people through something that we can all do, something simple,” Bowen Cuthbertson (’27) said. “I think that’s really powerful.”
This year’s event was sponsored by many Vienna businesses and other organizations, including Garai Orthodontists and Road Runner Sports. Working hand in hand, the marching ensemble served the community, while the fire department lent their space. The event, which attracted crowds of over a thousand, was a loop through the Vienna Woods neighborhood, starting on Cherry St SE, right beside the fire station. Three races were offered: a fun run for young children, a 5k and a 10k. Families came out from all over Vienna and surrounding areas to run, walk or even leap frog the race course.
“We’ve been going since I was in second grade,” Audrey Kapitan (’27) said. “It’s fun exercise, and we’ve done it every year.”
On race day, band members and their parents arrived at the station at the crack of dawn, as early as 6:00 a.m. Students working at the fire station set up hot cocoa stands, prepared bagels and fruit for runners and organized inventory of shirts and racer bibs. Jazz band and drumline members arrived in their warmest clothes to play music for the racers. The jazz band was stationed on the lawn outside the fire station to encourage racers at the starting line, while drumline was placed in the center of the race track, near the Vienna Woods pool, to motivate runners on their route. At 8:00 a.m., the children’s fun run started. The run was led by six student ambassadors, including Cuthbertson on bike, and a student dressed as a turkey to lead warm up stretches.
“I picked the fun run because I really like to bike, and I’ve been doing more running recently,” Cuthbertson said.
The various volunteer opportunities allowed students to sign up for the task they were most comfortable with, whether that was running in the cold, serving the community from inside or playing music for the crowds.
“After a runner goes through the entire route, they are tired or talk to friends while the jazz band plays, so it’s a great opportunity to show people what musicians at Madison do and work on,” Kai Teale (’28) said.
At 8:30 a.m., after the last kid had crossed the finish line and gotten their commemorative ribbon, the 5k and 10k racers began their races.
“The band is there, and they play when you cross the finish line, so it’s very rewarding,” Kapitan said.
After months of preparation and effort from parents and students, the Turkey Trot finished around 11 a.m. The race continues to be a yearly staple for the local community and represents the collaboration between the Madison band and the Town of Vienna.
“The band gets money for trips and competitions and the community gets to run together,” Isobel Johnson (’26) said. “It just brings Vienna together in a fun event.”
