Living in the Upstate is cool, and running – or walking – in one of South Carolina’s largest races, the Turkey Day Run, helps keep it that way. The event supports TreesUpstate, a nonprofit that works to keep the area healthier, cooler and greener by giving away trees and helping communities plant and care for them.
Kelly Byers, deputy executive director, said TreesUpstate expects to have around 9,000 participants for the 18th annual race on Nov. 26. Presenting sponsors are Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.
“Everyone loves the family-friendly, intergenerational nature of our event. This year the youngest person registered is 2 and the oldest is 87,” Byers said.
Registration is $35 for the 8K run, 5K fun run or walk, and includes a free tree. Participants can choose from several native species – including oak, pecan and redbuds – to take home and plant.
“It’s fun when families come to pick out their trees and the kids say, ‘This tree is speaking to me,’ or parents say, ‘In my country it’s traditional to plant a tree when a new baby is born,’” Byers said.
The fundraising event has helped TreesUpstate plant and give away more than 60,000 trees since its founding in 2005 as TreesGreenville. The nonprofit became TreesUpstate in 2019 and now includes Pickens, Anderson, Oconee and Spartanburg counties.
Most TreesUpstate plantings are near parks, schools and trails, including more than 1,000 planted along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. The group’s NeighborWood project provides 80 to 100 trees for residents to plant in yards or common areas with an emphasis on improving tree equity.
“There’s a neighborhood near San Souci that’s planting trees to create a shady spot in a common area. It’s fun to hear different ways people use the trees to restore their communities,” Byers said.
South Carolina is among the fastest growing states in the nation, and the Upstate cities of Woodruff, Greer, Fountain Inn and Mauldin are among the fastest growing cities in the state. Planting trees is one way to preserve the quality of life in communities by offsetting carbon emissions as the population grows.
“Trees provide positive health benefits, cleaner air and water, and shade that can reduce home energy costs. They preserve habitat for wildlife and help reduce flooding by limiting stormwater runoff,” Byers said. “Local governments have goals for the tree canopy, but we can all contribute by planting trees of different ages, improving its resilience for the future.”
On Sept. 25, 2025, Community Foundation of Greenville awarded TreesUpstate a Capacity Building Grant of $7,800. The grant will support TreesUpstate’s implementation of the Mobile Urban Forestry Field Platform to digitize its field operations. Field staff, interns and volunteers will use the new equipment for data collection, mapping and maintenance tracking to support community programs.
To learn more or register for the Turkey Day Run, visit:treesupstate.org.
