• Photo by Andrew Goff

If the thought of a day indoors filled with inflatable parades and awkward exchanges with once-a-year relatives has you dreading November’s fourth Thursday, we have some good news. Humboldt offers a few Thanksgiving Day distractions for you turkeys who refuse to be cooped.

Get a head start burning inevitable calories by venturing out, bright and early, in the crisp fall morning to get your trot on. The Jogg N’ Shoppe again sponsors the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot a three mile race/walk/run through Old Town Eureka as grueling as you decide to make it. Should you wake up feeling sporty on Thursday, registration takes place at Old Town Coffee and Chocolates at 7:30 a.m. Race time is 9 a.m.

Need to keep your post-Trot heart rate up? Head around the bay to the Arcata Marsh where Friends of the Marsh’s Art Barab will lead an annual walk through our local, natural gem. In? Congregate on the porch of the Interpretive Center -- ‘tis closed for the holiday -- around 10 a.m.

Want your Thanksgiving to be a bit saltier? The City of Trinidad continues a tradition with the annual Blessing of the Fleet. The Chamber of Commerce boasts that in the years since Trinidad has been blessing boats -- with both Native American and Christian prayer, just to be safe -- not one fisherman has been lost. Keep the streak alive at the Trinidad Pier at 10 a.m.

Significantly more adorable than grandpa stuffing stuffing into his face, the residents of the Sequoia Park Zoo will receive special holiday meals again this Turkey Day. (Not turkey.) See the zoo’s famous red pandas use their stinkin’ precious little hand-like paws to dig yummy morsels out of hollowed out pumpkins. It’s better than football. Special holiday hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And while we’re on the Thanksgiving subject, it’s always nice to remember that the holidays, for many, are not necessarily enjoyable. Hardship is amplified. The fine folks at Food for People are again addressing local needs with their annual Hunger Fighter Challenge. Many local businesses and community groups are already “competing” to collect the most money and food to aid local families. Even if you’re probably a little late getting started to “win,” you can still make a donation. Call 445-3166 or go to foodforpeople.org for more info.

Gobble up.