5K races near Frederica

The Fall Harvest 5K begins at 9:00 a.m. starting from BB&T Bank. Morning registration and packet pickup are at the Borough Building on Filbert Street. This is a 3.1-mile road race on a flat, fast, wheel-measured course. The plan is straightforward: arrive early, attach your bib, and complete a quick local 5K. Awards are presented to the top three men and women in each age group, with divisions from under 10 to 70+. The fastest overall male and female runners receive trophies. The current course records are 16:56.80 for men and 17:20.65 for women. A $200 prize is offered for the first man and first woman to break the record in the new 70+ age group.

The MoCo CARES Charity Race begins at 7503 Muncaster Mill Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland, offering 1.6 km, 5 km, and 10 km distances. This local charity run, organized by So What Else and Covenant Life School, focuses on fundraising for local charities and assisting children and families in need throughout Montgomery County. The course features short-distance paths arranged by volunteers, including a route similar to a 1-mile run and a 5K route. Local families, businesses, volunteers, and Companies Who CARE participate in the event. Capital Youth Outreach Club collaborates with So What Else for service support. Volunteers manage the event's logistics, such as setting up signs and booths, encouraging runners, ensuring children's safety, participating in a post-race service project, and assisting with cleanup. Formerly known as the LaunchCARES Charity Race, it originated as a small community gathering before growing into a county-wide initiative aimed at combating hunger.

The Westminster Haunted 5K & 10K is a Halloween-themed road race held at 739 Tahoma Farm Road in Westminster, Maryland. The race begins at 8:00 AM. Packet pickup is available starting 30 minutes before the race and closes 10 minutes prior to the start. Registration must be completed via RunSignup before race day; no on-site registration will be offered. Both the 5K and 10K events follow an out-and-back course. The 5K route is completed twice, and the 10K route is completed four times. All participants have a 2-hour time limit. Medals are awarded to finishers, and race merchandise can be purchased from the event shop. The best costume award adds a Halloween element beyond the event's name. The race also contributes points to the US Road Running series, attracting participants who are accumulating series results alongside local runners participating in a themed event.

Freedom's Run ties its races to places where Civil War history is part of the ground underfoot: Harpers Ferry, Antietam, and the surrounding region. The series includes a May Harpers Ferry Half & 5K and an October Freedom's Run event, with distances ranging from a full marathon and half marathon to a 10K, 5K, and Kids Fun Run. The Harpers Ferry races run inside Harpers Ferry National Park, while the longer Freedom's Run routes connect runners with historic sites in and around the area. One runner remembered entering Antietam in cold rain, with mist rising from wet earth and the field going quiet as the group ran together. The series also links to Two Rivers Treads, a local running store with a foot-first approach to shoes and gait, and it raises money for a community grant fund supporting local health and community projects.

The Tie Dye Run takes place on a fall morning in Hagerstown, Maryland, starting at 17805 Oak Ridge Drive. Participants can choose from three distances: a 5K run/walk, a 10K run/walk, and a Family Fun Walk/Run. This setup accommodates both competitive runners aiming for a personal best and families seeking a shared activity. The family event begins earlier, with the 5K and 10K starting later in the morning after participants have checked in. The event is in its third year and benefits Compassion International, with all proceeds directed to the charity. Awards are presented to the top male and female finishers in the 5K and 10K, as well as to winners in various age groups, from youth categories up to 70 and older. Registration fees vary based on the chosen distance; the 10K is the most expensive, the family event is the least costly, and prices increase after the early registration period closes.

The Run for MWS 5K is a regional race for Mowat-Wilson Syndrome held in Monocacy Village Park in Frederick, Maryland. The event offers a 5K run/walk and a shorter Fun Run, both starting at 10am, catering to runners, walkers, families, and supporters, not exclusively competitive racers. The course is set within the park, presenting a local, park-based charity race with two distance options. Every registrant receives a Run for MWS: Mid-Atlantic Regional race t-shirt, and participants are entered into prize drawings. Non-runners can participate via a support/spectator option which also includes a shirt.

The New Market STRONG Run/Walk and Festival is an annual 5K in New Market, Maryland. It honors Karen Durbin, the town clerk who served the community for over 14 years before passing away after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. This 3.1-mile event accommodates both runners and walkers, with timing provided by Racine MultiSports. Families, walkers, and leashed dogs are welcome. The course follows New Market’s historic streets and adjacent neighborhoods, keeping the race centered on the town it benefits. Proceeds are directed to the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund, supporting the Frederick Health Hospital Cancer Center. Following the race, the event transitions into a local festival featuring live music, vendors, food and beverage trucks, family activities, and a cornhole competition.

Run Like Michael centers on Michael’s 5K Run For Life, a July race connected to Michael’s Run for Life Festival in Peoria. Packet pickup is handled at RC Outfitters on SW Water Street before race day, and on-site registration is available at the festival. The run was created because Michael loved running, and it supports the foundation’s fight against signet ring colon cancer. The event’s message is direct: a large group of people can take on hard problems together. The race gathers runners and supporters around that cause, rather than around a complicated course or elite field.

Boulder Dash uses the roads and packed gravel surrounding Pinesburg Quarry in Williamsport, Maryland, as the quarry itself is closed for race-day safety. The annual event provides three options: a challenging 5 Mile Challenge, a moderate Family Friendly 5K, and an accessible 1 Mile Fun Run. The 1-mile race begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the 5K and 5-mile races at 10:00 a.m. It accommodates a broad range of participants, from novices and families to those seeking a more strenuous quarry race. The 5 Mile Challenge is the notable course, descending into both the main and old quarry sections, featuring hills, packed gravel, uneven terrain, and some rocky parts. The 5K remains outside the quarry pits on gently rolling roads and gravel, while the 1-mile route is flat and suitable for children or less experienced runners. Registration covers a shirt, custom bib, finisher medal, complimentary photos, and post-race awards. Chip timing and live results are managed by Racine Timing. Awards are presented to the top overall male and female finishers and age-group winners in the 5K and 5-mile races, with 5-mile age groups ranging from 15-and-under up to 80.

The Linganore Haunted Wine Run 5k is a Halloween-themed run/walk held at Linganore Winecellars in Mt. Airy, Maryland. It is a timed 5k for runners and walkers, with chip timing provided by J3 Timing and results posted online post-race. Registration includes a pour of Linganore wine, a soft cotton T-shirt, a finisher medal, a chip-timed bib, and a portable collapsible wine glass. The course winds through the vineyard and wooded areas of the Linganore property, offering a fall outing feel rather than a standard road race. Participants can select their start time, accommodating groups of friends and mixed-pace runners. The appeal is straightforward: complete a 5k run or walk during Halloween season, return to the winery, and enjoy a glass of wine from the vineyard.

The Ghostly Grapes 5k & 10k is a fall trail run and walk held at Two Twisted Posts Winery & Tavern in Purcellville, Virginia. Participants select either a 5K or 10K distance, with both courses utilizing the winery's property and nearby trails by Short Hill Mountain. BISHOP'S EVENTS organizes the run, which accommodates both walkers and runners in a relaxed atmosphere. The start and finish lines are located at the winery on Harpers Ferry Road, leading participants back to post-run food, beer, music, and wine. A complimentary glass of wine is included after the run. The Ghostly Grapes theme incorporates costumes, awards, and race shirts. The event also supports a charity, and early registration provides a reduced fee.

Run the Vineyards - Rocklands Farm 5K is a 5-kilometer race at Rocklands Farm Winery in Poolesville, Maryland, with the start on the winery property. It is a cross-country style run rather than a road 5K, using hard-packed dirt, gravel, and grass trails through vineyard and farm terrain. The race uses chip timing with instant results, and the marked course includes hydration stations and volunteer support. Walkers and children can join, though walkers must register and start behind the runners, and everyone has a one-hour course limit. The event leans into the winery setting after the finish. Participants over 21 get a complimentary drink ticket, with wine tasting and wine sales available on site, plus live music, a food truck, and indoor and outdoor seating. Awards go to the top overall finishers and to age-group winners, three deep for male and female categories, starting with Under 14 and then moving through standard age bands. Registration also includes a custom tech shirt, a souvenir wine glass, free race photos, and free parking, with optional upgrades for long sleeves and finisher medals.