Rum River Festival 5K
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Rum River Festival 5K Run/Walk
The Rum River Festival 5K Run/Walk is one event within the Rum River Festival, held June 4-7, 2026 in Princeton, Minnesota. The 5K takes place on Saturday as part of a multi-day community festival that traces its roots to a 1961 Flower Festival and later polka and river traditions.
The festival program includes a variety of public activities across several days. Thursday features a city-wide garage sale, the start of the Medallion Hunt with daily clues posted on the chamber's Facebook page, and the community parade. Friday activity centers on the Princeton Mall parking lot with vendors, a polka band, bouncy houses and the Duck Drop at Riverside Park.
Saturday begins with the Rum River Festival 5K Run/Walk followed by a farmers market at the Old National Bank parking lot, vendor and food truck areas across the street, bouncy houses and an Elite Auto Foam Party. Sunday programming includes a breakfast served by the Princeton Lion's Club and a vendor fair at the Mille Lacs County Fairgrounds.
The festival description notes historical changes in name and emphasis: from the Flower Festival in 1961, to a Polka Festival beginning in 1969, and to the Rum River Festival name adopted in 1974. The 2026 festival references flowers, polkas and rubber ducks as part of its programming. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
