5K races near Adairsville

Lance's Legacy 5K and Fun Run is a fundraising run in Dalton, Georgia, starting from 652 Haig Mill Lake Road. It offers a 5K and a fun run, with a $30 registration fee for runners supporting the cause. The event is organized by Lance's Legacy, a nonprofit created in memory of Lance Sotelo, a runner from the Dalton and Charlotte running communities who died while out on a run. The race is held on Lance's birthday and raises money for scholarships for high school and college runners. These scholarships are for athletes who show perseverance, acceptance, and love, the qualities his family chose to carry forward through the nonprofit. The day also includes a live DJ, food vendors, inflatables, and awards, structured as both a community fundraiser and a family-friendly race day.

The WineSTEM 5K is a professionally timed 5K run/walk in New Hope, Pennsylvania, followed by a wine festival. It is part of the Run Now Wine Later series, featuring a simple format: complete the course, receive an official time if desired, and then enjoy the post-race gathering. The course is set in New Hope, a small river town in Bucks County. The race welcomes both runners and walkers, not exclusively competitive 5K racers. Registration provides a finisher medal, a race shirt available in unisex and women's sizes, entry to the post-race gathering, and a complimentary glass of wine from Olde Stone or Greenhouse.

The Nightmare on Main 5K concludes the Kennesaw Grand Prix Race Series. This 5K takes place on paved streets in downtown Kennesaw, suitable for both novice 5K participants and those aiming for a personal best to cap off the series. The race's distinctive character comes from its Halloween theme. Participants are invited to wear costumes as they run through town. As the Grand Prix's final event, it provides a lighthearted conclusion to the series, differing from a typical road race finale.

The Brookstone 5K is an annual 5K hosted by the Brookstone HOA. The race begins in the morning and is centered around neighbors, family, and friends. It is open to anyone interested, and participants may run, walk, or move at their preferred pace. The event maintains its course for pedestrians: bicycles, scooters, and powered vehicles are prohibited. Proceeds benefit local running programs. Early registrants receive a race T-shirt, while later registration is subject to availability of extra shirts on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Salute to Veterans 5K/10K/Half Marathon is a trail race starting at AMC Theatres in Kennesaw, near Atlanta. Runners may select the 5K, 10K, or half marathon. Veterans may enter without charge by showing a government-issued veteran ID. The course follows local trails instead of city streets, focusing on off-road running with multiple distance choices. All finishers get a custom award, participants receive race shirts, and prizes are awarded to overall winners and age-group runners in five-year categories.

The Early Bird Turkey Trot takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in Kennesaw and Marietta, offering in-person 5K, 10K, 15K, and half marathon races. The same distances are available virtually, allowing participation remotely. This event is part of the Five Star NTP race series and serves as an early iteration of the organizer’s Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, providing an opportunity to run before the holiday. The race originated from a Five Star NTP custom of offering a complimentary 5K entry to returning runners: those who completed any of the organizer’s races between early December and mid-November qualify for one in-person Turkey Trot 5K entry. Participants not qualifying can still register for a modest fee. Shirts, hoodies, and finisher medals are available as optional purchases, not included automatically. The event relies on local charity and volunteer assistance, with a charity partner receiving donations and volunteers earning free future races for their morning's work.

The Harvest Creek Classic 5K, known as “Huffin for Stuffin,” is a Thanksgiving-season 5K held at Cauley Creek Park in Johns Creek, Georgia. The race begins at 8:00 a.m., limits participants to 300 runners, and proceeds regardless of weather. It features chip timing, and all participants receive a long-sleeve soft tri-blend shirt and a finisher medal. The course is a USATF-certified 3.1-mile loop on Cauley Creek’s rubberized trail, run clockwise. This trail was developed with support from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program and was among the first rubberized 5K courses of its kind in the Southeast. Runners will see views of the Chattahoochee River, sports courts, athletic fields, a playground, and open park areas. The larger trail system extends across the Rogers Bridge Pedestrian Crossing into Rogers Park in Duluth and Gwinnett County.

Pine Log Possum Trot is a Thanksgiving morning 5K hosted by historic Pine Log United Methodist Church in Rydal, Georgia. It starts and finishes from the church at 3497 Pine Log Rd NE, and the day is designed for families, neighbors, runners, and walkers rather than for a competitive race field. Participants can run, walk, jog, or “wog,” which indicates the mood: the objective is getting out together before the holiday meal, not competing for first place. All proceeds support Hickory Log Personal Care Home, so the event connects a local 5K to a direct benefit for community members.

Run for the Children is an annual race morning at Etowah River Park in Canton, Georgia, featuring a 5K run/walk, a 10K run, a Fun Run, and a Santa’s Helper option for those who want to support the event without racing. The Service League of Cherokee County hosts it, with a schedule designed for families as much as runners: the Fun Run starts first, followed by the 5K and 10K together. The event maintains a practical and local format. The 5K and 10K are timed by BT Race Timing, but are not chip timed; finishers submit a card with their name, age, bib number, and gender to appear in results and qualify for awards. The 5K and 10K offer awards for overall winners, masters winners, and age groups from 10 and under through 80 and over, while Fun Run finishers receive a commemorative ribbon. Schools have an additional incentive to bring participants, with a cash prize for the school with the most attendees, and runners receive bananas and water post-race.

The Berry Half/10K/5K takes place in early March on Berry College’s 27,000-acre campus in Rome, Georgia. Participants can select a half marathon, 10K, 5K, or Kids Fun Run, making the event suitable for seasoned runners, families, and newcomers. The campus itself is a key attraction: Berry is noted as the world’s largest campus, featuring extensive woodlands, historic academic structures, open fields, and over 1,200 deer. The race routes are contained within Berry College, beginning and ending at the Mount Berry campus along Martha Berry Highway. This race series serves as the main fundraising effort for Berry College Elementary & Middle School, supporting facility and technology improvements, curriculum development, and scholarships. This school affiliation is evident on race day through the numerous volunteers assisting with packet preparation, runner registration, aid stations, course monitoring, traffic direction, refreshment provision, and medal distribution. The event has been held for almost twenty years, recording over 22,500 finishers and more than 107,000 race miles accumulated throughout its history.

The Street Dog Dash 5K is a dog-friendly road 5K in Canton, Georgia, held annually in April at Etowah River Park. This race is organized by a Cherokee County nonprofit that directs funds to animal rescue groups in the metro Atlanta area and to one international partner. It begins in the morning, accommodates families and strollers, and attracts both runners and dogs. One recent running saw just under 400 human participants and close to 200 dogs. The course is a standard 5K centered on Etowah River Park, with the start located on Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. The event’s fundraising benefits groups like the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand. These organizations provide services such as spaying and neutering street animals, vaccinations, medical treatment, sheltering, and adoption. The race appeals more to local dog owners and rescue advocates than to serious competitors, so participants include people running with dogs, families, casual runners, and individuals supporting rescue organizations with their participation costs.