Apple Watch Owners Challenged to Earn Thanksgiving Day Activity Achievement

Apple is celebrating Thanksgiving this year by urging U.S. Apple Watch owners to bag a special achievement by recording a minimum walking or running distance on Thursday, November 28.

thanksgiving apple watch challenge 2019
As with past holidays, Apple Watch owners can earn an exclusive badge and an iMessage sticker if they complete the challenge.

To earn the turkey-themed badge and sticker, Apple Watch wearers must clock up a 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) walk, run, or wheelchair workout. Apple's Thanksgiving Day challenge was first spotted by Kyle Seth Gray, who shared his discovery on Twitter.

To record the activity, wearers need to use Apple's stock Workout app or a third-party app that feeds data to Apple's HealthKit. An ‌Apple Watch‌ user's history of achievements can be viewed any time via the Achievements tab on the iOS Activity app.

Apple first challenged Apple Watch owners to get out on Thanksgiving Day in 2016, and then again in 2017, but no challenge was forthcoming in 2018.

Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday, so the challenge obviously won't show up for Apple Watch users set to other regions. The last special activity challenge Apple promoted occurred on Monday for Veterans Day.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

Justin Cymbal Avatar
82 months ago
Sounds like fun! I’m up to the challenge! I’ll be in Cleveland visiting relatives for Thanksgiving so my cousins and I can go for a walk after we eat!

I am flying in Thanksgiving morning, get in at 11 am so I’m sure I’ll get a lot of walking at the airports as well..
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darkslide29 Avatar
82 months ago
Just a heads up after learning this the hard way.. You need to specifically go into the Workout watch app and start an outdoor run/hike etc. You simply don't just go on a 5k/~3 mile walk or hike, as it's not the cumulative movement in your day.

Oh yes, that 5 mile hike on National Parks Day was nice, but I didn't start a 'workout' so I didn't get the badge.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fozziebear71 Avatar
82 months ago

Pretty pointless having achievements outside the US. Just switch them off and don't market them.
I learned a long time ago they are pretty pointless anyway. I have many of these "rewards" disappear when I have upgraded watches and/or phones and no one at Apple has ever been able to get them back for me or explain why it happens in the first place.

I am a runner so I get them when they show up regardless. But I mostly ignore them because I know at some point they will disappear anyway.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
28Gauge Avatar
82 months ago
I will do it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coumerelli Avatar
82 months ago

Sounds like fun! I’m up to the challenge! I’ll be in Cleveland visiting relatives for Thanksgiving so my cousins and I can go for a walk after we eat!

I am flying in Thanksgiving morning, get in at 11 am so I’m sure I’ll get a lot of walking at the airports as well..
you have to do an activity of 5k or more to earn the badge.Your airport walking won't count unless you walk/run/wheelchair for at least 5k with the app running. "Total miles" doesn't count.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)