Pearland’s annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot will take place Nov. 26, starting and finishing at the Pearland Recreation Center and Natatorium along a new route approved by City Council at its Oct. 12 meeting.
The race will close portions of Bailey Road and nearby intersections to accommodate an estimated 3,500 participants, city documents show.
What residents need to know
The new route will use the inside eastbound and westbound lanes of Bailey Road between Veterans Drive and Allen Road, replacing the previous route at Independence Park.
Organizers expect the change to improve traffic flow, accommodate more runners and preserve neighborhood access through alternate entrances and exits, documents show.
What to expect
According to city documents, the event schedule is:
Check-in: 6:30-10 a.m.
Race start: 7:30 a.m.
Race end: 10 a.m.
The inside eastbound and westbound lanes of Bailey Road between Veterans Drive and Allen Road will close at 7 a.m., while the outside lanes will remain open to traffic.
The intersections of Bailey Road with FM 1128 and Harkey Road will have intermittent closures as police stop traffic for passing runners. Other intersections along the route will remain closed from 7 a.m. until approximately 10 a.m., city documents show.
Why now?
Following the 2026 Pearland Half Marathon in February, organizers determined that both races had outgrown Independence Park. The city asked organizers to explore alternatives that could accommodate more participants while reducing the impact on nearby neighborhoods, documents show.
Looking ahead
The approved permit covers Thanksgiving races through 2030.
Organizers are considering a similar route for the 2027 Pearland Half Marathon scheduled for Feb. 22, and will present plans after reviewing the 2026 Turkey Trot, city documents show.
