FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Nov. 18, 2021) — Thanksgiving is looking quite eventful at Fort Drum this year, with Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and the USO serving as holiday planners for the community.

The USO staff will host a Turkey Hunt, starting at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 24, and they will hide turkey cutouts throughout post for community members to find. Anyone who brings one into the USO can claim a prize (one cutout/prize per family).

In addition to earning a prize, participants also will take home a free pie!

“Our goal is to present a unique and fun activity for service members and their families this Thanksgiving,” said Sydney Schlosser, USO Center operations and programs manager. “For people who are not yet familiar with some of the buildings and facilities at Fort Drum, spending time finding turkeys will also give people a chance to explore post.”

Community members can learn the locations where they can search for hidden turkeys on Nov. 23 by visiting the USO Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USOFortDrum, on their Instagram page, and on the USO website at https://fortdrum.uso.org.

Prizes that participants can win include card and board games, puzzles and gingerbread house kits.

“The idea for the prizes is to give people a fun activity they can do during the Thanksgiving holiday,” Schlosser said.

The four dining facilities on post will be decorated for Thanksgiving on Nov. 23, with 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum garrison command teams visiting each to judge the creative displays.

Fort Drum Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Sports, Fitness and Aquatics staff will host a Turkey Trot 5K, starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 25 outside Magrath Sports Complex.

The family-friendly foot race serves as a way to get some exercise in before the big feast, and it has become the healthiest Thanksgiving tradition in communities across the country.

“A good run in the morning will get your body burning calories all day, so you can have that extra turkey leg or piece of pie,” said Aly Thibodeaux, Sports, Fitness and Aquatics. “We know that Thanksgiving is a food and family holiday, and we hope that Fort Drum community members will want to make the Turkey Trot part of their holiday tradition.”

The run is open to all DoD ID cardholders, and each participant will receive a medal and enter a drawing to win a gift certificate.

This is the second event in the Holiday Triple Crown run series, which will conclude Dec. 17 with the Ugly Sweater 5K.

For more information, call (315) 772-6663.

Community members are invited to return to Magrath Sports Complex, from noon until 5 p.m. Nov. 24, for a “Home for the Holidays” meal, hosted by the Fort Drum Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program.

“We are going to be serving a Thanksgiving meal with turkey, ham, stuffing and all the traditional sides,” said Pauline Beck, Fort Drum BOSS administrator. “We’re also going to have some really great prizes to offer everyone who attends.”

The event is free and open to all DoD ID cardholders on a first-come, first-served basis (one meal per person).

For more information about Home for the Holidays, call (315) 772-7807.

It’s not Thanksgiving without a Turkey Bowl, but how about some Turkey Bowling instead? The Pines Plains Bowling Center is offering a Thanksgiving Special, from 3 until 7 p.m. Nov. 26. Patrons can spin the prize wheel for free or reduced-price bowling and more.

For more information, call (315) 772-6601.