If you have a turtle-loving kiddo and live in Pittsburgh, the Ambridge Turtle Race is an event you won’t want to miss!
This family-friendly event is free to watch and only $5 to race!! We made it to the Championship Race last year and were so upset that we missed the 2 events leading up to it! For my son and his friend who are huge turtle lovers, being at P.J. Caul Park in Ambridge surrounded by everything turtle, they were in heaven!
So what is a turtle race? Well, the Ambridge Turtle Race works with a local reptile shop, Off the Hook, that takes in homeless turtles and fosters them for the races. You are always welcome to bring your own turtle from home or race with one of the provided turtles.
Once you purchase your race ticket and know what heat you'll be competing in, you walk over to the turtle pools to pick your racer. Then you pick from a collection of sponsors pinned up on the wall and adhere the tag to your turtle's shell (how else are you going to identify a dozen turtles in a race?) Racers wait patiently in a tub of water until the heat begins.
 |  |
When it's time for the race to begin, all turtles and their drivers gather in the center of a green circle. On the count of three, all the turtles are released to the starting line at the same time. The first turtle to cross the outer circle finish line is named the winner for that heat.
 Waiting patiently to set their turtles free at the starting line. |
 Even the fastest of turtles can suffer from performance anxiety! |
If you don't want to participate in the races, that's ok, they sure are fun to watch! There are also all kinds of fun activities happening in the park along with turtle-shaped foods if you need a snack!
 Off the Hook Exotic Pets lets the kids have hands-on exposure with a ball python |
 and then there's this guy!!!! |
 Just when you thought pierogi couldn't get any better, you found them shaped and colored like a turtle! |
 These delicious turtle chocolate suckers were made by Anderson's Candies |
 There are plenty of fun activities to keep your kiddos entertained! |
So come on out to P.J. Caul Park in Ambridge for a beautiful day full of family fun attractions and great food for the Ambridge Turtle Races on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, and Saturday, August 17th from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. For more information, visit https://ambridgeturtleracing.com/
