Fall Color 5K Run and Walk
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Fall Color 5K Run and Walk
The Fall Color 5K Run and Walk takes place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, on The Morton Arboretum’s East Side. The course is USATF certified (IL6002NM) and winds through wooded areas under a canopy of trees.
Registration for the in-person event includes free general admission to the Arboretum on race day to explore 1,700 acres of collections and natural areas, including the Children’s Garden. Commemorative race apparel is included with registration; participants may opt out and donate their full registration cost to the Arboretum.
Awards are presented to the top overall male, female, and nonbinary finishers and to the top three finishers by gender and nonbinary category in each age division. Overall winners are determined by gun time and age division winners by chip time.
A virtual participation option is available. Virtual participants receive mailed race packets and apparel, a coupon for Arboretum admission to complete the distance in the two weeks preceding the race, and recorded results on the registration platform.
Onsite services and logistics include a postrace party with live music and food trucks and a complimentary alcoholic beverage, free on-site parking, gear check, water stations at the start and two locations on course, recovery food at the finish, stroller access with designated lineup, and an organized shoe recycling collection in partnership with Dick Pond Athletics and the Reuse-A-Shoe Program. Motorized vehicles, bicycles, roller skates, and pets are prohibited on the course. The event proceeds rain or shine. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
