Hope Watermelon 5K
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Hope Watermelon 5K : Fair Park, Hope, AR
The event on August 8, 2026 takes place at Fair Park in Hope, Arkansas and is organized by the Melonvine Striders. It includes multiple race categories and a children’s fun run. The USATF course certification number is AR24012WJT. Every participant receives a locally grown genuine Hope watermelon.
Distances
- 3.1 Miles (5K) for runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants
- Melon Mile Kids Run for children aged 3 to 12 by race day
Registration for the 5K categories opens March 1, 2026 and closes August 7, 2026; the listed registration fee for those events is $30.00. Registration for the Melon Mile opens March 9, 2026 and closes August 7, 2026; the listed registration fee for the kids run is $15.00 and race day registration is noted as $15.00.
Awards are given to the overall top three male and female finishers in Open, Masters, Grandmasters, and Senior categories; there are also awards for top walkers, top wheelchairs, and a high school track team award. Age-group awards are presented three deep in the following brackets: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 and over.
The course departs Fair Park and follows Park Drive east into a route that includes winding turns, a gradual downhill near Main Street around the 1.5 mile point, a gradual uphill toward 16th Street before the 2 mile marker, then a downhill section and a leveling stretch along Grady Street before returning to the final straightaway back into Fair Park.
The event was established in 1978, originally held at a four mile distance in its early years, and has been part of the Arkansas RRCA Grand Prix Series since 1994. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
