Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest 2026 — North Port, FL

Mark your calendar for a delightfully not-so-spooky Halloween morning full of fun, community, and impact at the Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest! Benefitting the Child Protection Center (CPC), this event takes place at CPC’s Keith D. Monda Family Campus of Healing in North Port. Join us for the race, the family festival, or both! Whether you’re a seasoned runner, looking for a festive morning walk, have a little one who wants to join the kids' dash, or are skipping the race and coming for the FREE Fall Family Fest, this event welcomes everyone and encourages community fun. Race timing and packet pickup: Kids' Mini Monster Dash starts at 8am. 5k run/walk starts at 8:30am. This event is CHIP TIMED. 3deep <9 under to 70+ 5year Age Group Awards with OA M/F. Early packet pickup will be on Thursday the 29th from 3- 6pm at IL Primo's Pizza N Wings – 16979 S Tamiami Trl, North Port, FL 34287 Race day packet pickup will be at 7am at the race location – Child Protection Center – 5600 Peace River Rd, North Port, FL 34287 The Family Fest will kick off at 9am and will be overflowing with kid-centric and family fun until 1pm! Enjoy trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, lawn games, sensory and activation stations, giveaways, face painting, inflatable games, a kids' costume contest, community partners, and a puppy pit with PAWS therapy dogs. Food trucks and a mini market will also be on site, which will have meals and goodies for sale. In other words, it will have everything you need for a safe, engaging, low-to-no-cost, and FUN Fall celebration with your kiddos! The Family Fest is open to all with free admission - you do not need to participate in the race to gain entry, though we do encourage all runners to join in the festivities and refuel once they cross the finish line! Kids’ costume contest: 0 to 2yrs: 11:00 am 3 to 5yrs: 11:15 am 6 to 8yrs: 11:30 am 9 to 12yrs: 11:45 am Proceeds will support the Child Protection Center's vital mission of protecting children and strengthening families through expanding child abuse prevention education in local schools, providing critical interventions and medical assessments, and giving more survivors access to highly specialized, trauma-informed therapy. Whether you’ll be chasing a personal best or simply gathering with friends and family for a fun and meaningful morning, join us and let your stride contribute to support, healing, and joy. See you at the finish line! 🎃 Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are available at bit.ly/runaway-pumpkin-sponsorships We will be welcoming donations of non-perishable food items at the event, which will be distributed to local families facing food insecurity this upcoming holiday season. COSTUME GUIDELINES: For both the 5K and the Family Fest, participants are welcome to wear costumes if they choose. All costumes must be child friendly. Weapon props and face coverings will not be permitted- children participating in the costume contest may wear face coverings during their age group’s contest only. We will not permit clothing with objectionable material (including obscene or violent themes, graphics, or language), excessively torn clothing, or clothing that exposes excessive portions of skin that may be viewed as inappropriate in a child-friendly environment.