Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest
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Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest
The Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest is a community event at the Child Protection Center’s Campus of Healing in North Port, Florida. The event benefits the Child Protection Center and supports its work with families in Sarasota County.
Race and participation options include the following distances:
- 3.1 Miles Runaway Pumpkin 5K (in-person)
- 100 m Mini Monster Dash for children
- 3.1 Miles Virtual Runaway Pumpkin 5K
Registration fees are listed for individual events. The Family Fest portion has free admission and offers family-focused activities such as food trucks, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, a bounce house, a puppy pit with PAWS therapy dogs, a kids' costume contest, and community vendors and partners.
The kids' costume contest is organized by age groups: 0 to 2 years, 3 to 5 years, 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 12 years. Proceeds from the races and festival support trauma-informed care, forensic services, and child-safe advocacy. Donations of non-perishable food items are accepted at the event for local families facing food insecurity during the holiday season.
Costume guidelines apply for both the race and the Family Fest: costumes must be child friendly; weapon props and face coverings are not permitted except that children in the costume contest may wear face coverings during their age group’s contest. Clothing with obscene or violent themes, excessive tearing, or excessive skin exposure is not allowed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
