Kick off your Fourth of July the Epic Races way: join us in downtown Ann Arbor on the 4th of July for our classic Firecracker 5K: Run, Walk, or Ruck! Our 3.1-mile course gets underway at a truly red, white, and blue locale: the intersection of Liberty and 4th... where else would you start a race on the 4th of July? Racers then loop around downtown and come in for a spectacular star-spangled finish in front of thousands of spectators. 2026 Schedule of Events: 6:30 AM — Packet Pick-Up and Race-Day Registration open 7:45 AM — Packet Pick-Up and Race-Day Registration close 7:47 AM — Hot dog eaters to the stage 7:50 AM — Pacers to line up 7:52 AM — Remarks 7:55 AM — National Anthem 8:00 AM — 200-meter Kids’ Dash 8:05 AM — Ruckers Start 8:08 AM — Hot Dog Eating 8:10 AM — 5K Start 8:20 AM — 1 Mile Fun Run Start Add an all-American angle to your outing by opting for one of our 3 special holiday divisions: ☆It's Back for 2026☆ Rucking Division: Rucking is simply walking or hiking while carrying
Hotels Near This Race
Find accommodation close to the start line in Ann Arbor, MI. Sorted by distance from the race venue. Book early — race weekend hotels fill fast.
RaceHotelFinder earns a small commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Results are sorted by distance from the race venue.
Ann Arbor Firecracker 5K: Run, Walk, or Ruck 2026 — Ann Arbor, MI
Race weekend dates pre-loaded on Booking.com. RaceHotelFinder may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Race Travel Insurance
Don't forget travel insurance for July 4.
You've trained for months and booked a trip to Ann Arbor, MI.
A pre-race injury, a delayed flight, or a family emergency can derail the whole thing.
Travel insurance can help cover your race entry fee, hotel, and flights if you can't make it,
and may cover medical costs if something goes wrong on the course. Plans typically only run
5-7% of your total trip cost — and running events are covered under standard plans with no
additional coverage needed.
Trip cancellation up to 100% of prepaid costs
Running events covered under standard plans — no add-ons needed
Trip interruption up to 150% of non-refundable costs
