Hope Watermelon 5K
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Hope Watermelon 5K
The Hope Watermelon 5K is a community road race held in Hope, Arkansas, with the start and finish area at Fair Park (1251 Park Drive). The event is hosted by the Melonvine Striders and the course holds USATF certification AR24012WJT.
Distances:
- 3.1 Miles for runner, walker, and wheelchair divisions
- 1 Mile Melon Mile Kids Run for ages 3–12 by race day
Registration for the main 5K events opens 2026-03-01 and closes 2026-08-07; registration for the kids run opens 2026-03-09 and also closes 2026-08-07. Registration fees listed are $30.00 for 5K entries and $15.00 for the kids run. XXL shirts are available for a limited time for an additional $2.00. Every participant receives a locally grown Hope watermelon.
The course leaves Fair Park and follows Park Drive east, turns onto Elm, then proceeds along Main Street with a small gradual downhill near the 1.5 mile mark and a gradual uphill approaching 2 miles. The route then descends again, levels on Grady Street, turns onto 7th Street and returns to Park Drive for the final straightaway into Fair Park.
The event began in 1978 (initially run at four miles) and has been part of the Arkansas RRCA Grand Prix Series since 1994. Awards are given across age groups and divisions including top finishers in Open, Masters, Grandmasters, Senior, walkers, wheelchairs, and high school track team competitions. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
