Town of Gates Gobble Wobble

My Hometown Community Events

Gates celebrates Thanksgiving with Gobble Wobble

Thanksgiving is a holiday full of traditions. People love turkey and football and watching the Macy’s parade. Nine years ago, the Town of Gates added a new tradition that has become a signature community gathering for those who are willing to get up and moving early on Thanksgiving morning.

The event is called the Gobble Wobble. Best described as an informal 5K, the event begins and ends at the Gates Town Hall on Buffalo Road. A majority of the attendees fall into the category of “walkers” and are given a cue that the race will shortly begin. An eclectic mix of kids, dogs, and adults from Gates and its neighboring towns assemble at the designated start line and the walk begins. A few minutes later, another dedicated (and more athletically dressed) group lines up at the start and a countdown for the “runners” begins. Those who prefer a more competitive turkey day race have other options in the area, and so the Gobble Wobblers are groups of family and friends who come looking for a bit of exercise and leave filled with an extra dose of holiday spirit.

The Gobble Wobble also has a charitable component to it. Those who attend are generous in giving to the event’s charity of choice. This year, a donation table was overflowing with hundreds of toys and books that were collected for Golisano Children’s Hospital. This outpouring of kindness seems to grow year after year.

The 2021 event was won by Cody Khuns, with a time of under 19 minutes and 30 seconds. Time is only kept on a portable scoreboard off to the side of the finish line. There is no trophy or award for the winner, but Cody’s smile that morning made it clear that he felt very accomplished in being the top finisher. Rounding out the top three were two of Cody’s fellow cross country teammates, Emmett Bachmann and Rahlin Finch.

The rest of the 100-plus runners and walkers crossed the finish line with either a smile on their face or one of tired satisfaction in having completed the 3.1-mile course. For some, running a few miles is simply another day of training. However, for others, it might be the first step in a renewed quest to become healthier (or perhaps just the rationale for eating another piece of pie). Most people stick around for a short time to cheer on all of the finishers and warm up with some hot chocolate or coffee. There are smiles, laughs, high fives, and a small few check their GPS watches to see what their time was. A final “thank you” or “see you next year” is offered, and then everyone slowly heads off to embark on their next holiday tradition.

Top finishers Rahlin Finch, Emmett Bachmann, and Cody Kuhns. Provided information and photos