Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest 2026

Join this vibrant mix of community and family connection, costumes, meaningful impact, and kid-centric fun at the Child Protection Center's first annual Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest! The event, taking place on Halloween in North Port, FL, will feature a 5K race, a 100m children’s Mini Monster Dash, and a FREE Fall family festival. Festival attendees will enjoy food trucks, trick-or-treating, PAWS therapy dogs, a Vendor Village, and tons of child-friendly activities, games, a costume contest, and sensory stations. Admission to the Family Fest is FREE and open to the public — you do not need to register for the race to attend the festival, though all runners are encouraged to join in the fun. The goal is to provide local families with an accessible, low-to-no-cost day of connection, celebration, and support for safe childhoods all while having fun! Proceeds from the event will support CPC’s mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. DETAILS: • Location: 5600 Peace River Rd, North Port | The Child Protection Center’s Keith D. Monda Family Campus of Healing • Time: Oct 31, 2026. Race activities begin at 8 a.m., followed by the free Family Fest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Registration: cpcsarasota.org/events/runaway-pumpkin *Registering for the Family Fest is not required but is encouraged. • Inquiries for sponsorships, volunteering, or participation in the Vendor Village: Please reach out to Kingsley Event Consulting at [email protected]. • Costumes: Costumes are welcome for both racers and festival attendees! Please visit the registration link for the costume guidelines.