Burn off those extra calories gained Thanksgiving dinner by running or walking in the Calvary Turkey Trot or get out in the great outdoors in the Kisatchie National Forest to hike or bike in the free Black Friday Outdoor Day hosted by Red River Cyclery.
The 2025 Calvary Turkey Trot will be held Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27) at Calvary Baptist Church, 5011 Jackson St., in Alexandria. Registration is now underway online at calvarynet.net/register. Race day signup is available from 7-7:45 a.m. The 1 Mile race starts at 8 a.m. followed by the 5K at 8:30 a.m.
After the 5K, awards will be presented recognizing top finishers in both overall and age group categories for both races.
On Friday (Nov. 28) Red River Cyclery will host a free Black Friday Outdoor Day starting at 9 a.m. at the Evangeline Primitive Camp trailhead on Messina Road in the Kisatchie National Forest. Participants of all skill levels will be able to ride the Wild Azalea Trail or gravel roads or hike the WAT. To get to the Evangeline Camp, head west on La. Highway 28 and turn left on Messina Road (Forest Road 273). Drive four miles and a sign for the camp and Wild Azalea Trail will be on the right.
The rides will be beginner friendly for people who want to come out and try the trails, says Katie Hazmark of Red River Cyclery. There will be multiple points on the routes where people can turn around and go back. Riders must have their own bikes.
“If there are people who don’t have bikes, we’re going to have a hike,” she says.
If parents bring their children, they’ll be responsible for watchingthem, says Red River Cyclery owner Mike Hopkins. There will be no designated adults that will stay behind to babysit while parents hike or ride.
This started because of REI’s Opt Outside where REI closed their stores on Black Friday so their employees could spend time to get outdoors.
Red River Cyclery’s event is for those who want to skip the frenzy of Black Friday shopping, enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise, said Hopkins.
There are other options available if you like to exercise on your own or as a family.
Mike Hopkins (front), owner of Red River Cyclery, leads about 20 cyclists along the Lakeshore Trail in Kisatchie National Forest for the annual Black Friday Trail Ride in 2018. Red River Cyclery will be hosting a Black Friday Outdoor Event where people can ride or hike.
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Compton Park on Wakefield Blvd., And Frank O. Hunter Park on Willow Glenn Road in Alexandria have walking trails.
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In Pineville, walking trails can be found at the Ward 9 Sportsplex in on Donohue Ferry Road and at Louisiana Christian University.
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Stuart Lake Recreation Area in Grant Parish, part of the Kisatchie National Forest, has the 2.4-mile long Glenn Emory Trail, perfect for families wanting to get outdoors.
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The Lakeshore Trail in Kisatchie National Forest can be used for mountain biking or hiking. The Lakeshore Trail begins at the East Kincaid Boat Launch on Messina Drive.
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The Wild Azalea Trail can be accessed at several points between Valentine Lake and Woodworth to hike or bike short distances. There is no fee for hiking the WAT.
The Kincaid Recreation Area is closed for the season. Some trails and campgrounds within Kisatchie National Forest — such as the Kincaid Loop Trail and the Kincaid Campground— are still closed due to extensive damage from Hurricane Laura in 2020.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Trot off those Thanksgiving pounds at these Alexandria area events