5K races near Highland

Pink on Parade is a breast cancer awareness walk held at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside, California. It is designed for families, teams, survivors, supporters, and those bringing pets, offering a 5K route or a shorter 1.7K Family Fun walk around the park. The 5K route can incorporate Mt. Rubidoux and is structured around the cancer journey. The shorter option makes the day accessible for children and casual walkers. The event honors survivors, remembers those lost to cancer, and directs all proceeds to The Pink Ribbon Place, a local resource center assisting individuals and families impacted by cancer. Beyond the walking paths, the event features a survivor pavilion, vendor expo, kids zone, food and beverages, a pre-walk stretch, team awards for fundraising and spirit, a T-shirt design competition, merchandise, and a classic car show displaying imports and domestics from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Luz y Vida is a Día de los Muertos run/walk in Riverside, California, with 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon options from Ryan Bonaminio Park. A Better World Running organizes it, and the setup is low-key: bib pickup happens the morning of the race, all distances start early, and registration includes a custom finisher medal, a drawstring goodie bag, free photos, free videos, posted results, snacks, and samples. The course uses a marked open path shared with pedestrians, runners, and cyclists, so this is not a closed-road race. The 5k is an out-and-back, the 10k repeats that loop twice, the 15k repeats it three times, and the half marathon uses three 4.36-mile loops. Aid is available at the turnaround and start/finish area with water, Gatorade, and Gu gels. Strollers are allowed, dogs are not, and half marathoners get a 3-hour-15-minute limit with early starts available by request.

The MVRRC Turkey Run begins at Lake Perris Dam, offering participants three distance options: a 1-mile for children, a 5K, and a 10K. This club race has a Thanksgiving theme. The youth 1-mile starts in the morning, followed shortly by the 5K and 10K. The 1-mile is for ages 5 to 12; the 5K and 10K are open to runners 12 and older. The event is included in the MVRRC race series and is in its 13th year. Race-day logistics are straightforward: parking is available at the Fisherman Lot and Lot 1. Online registration remains open until the day before the event, with on-site registration offered before the races. Entry fees are modest, with the kids’ mile having a different price than the 5K and 10K. Additionally, a Lake Perris vehicle entrance fee is required at the gate. An awards ceremony concludes the morning after the races.

The Big Bear Turkey Trot starts and finishes at Dank Donuts in the Moonridge Corridor of Big Bear Lake, California. This is a Thanksgiving Day 3-mile fun run or walk on pavement, open to all ages with strollers permitted. The morning begins with registration and check-in, followed by a brief Holiday Warmup Yoga session before the Turkey Trot commences. Adult and youth entries require payment, the Kids Run is free, and local residents receive a small discount with ID at packet pickup. The route winds through the pines, incorporates the Rathbun Creek Trail, and includes a lap around the Moonridge Zoo. The atmosphere leans towards a holiday outing rather than intense competition: families, walkers, runners, children, stroller users, and costumed participants are all part of the event. Open Air Big Bear organizes the event, and the finish line transforms into a Danksgiving Celebration featuring live holiday music, adult beverages, festive aid station refreshments, awards, and a costume contest with prizes.

The Redlands Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving morning 5K run/walk held in Redlands, California, featuring a Kids 1K Fun Run prior to the main event. The race begins early, with the children's run at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K at 8:00 a.m., allowing participants to be active before their holiday meal. The event is centered around Sylvan Park, with the start and finish lines located at University Street and Brockton Avenue, close to the University of Redlands. The 5K course winds through Redlands streets and includes sections of the University of Redlands campus, contributing to its distinct college-town atmosphere instead of a standard neighborhood route. The race is professionally timed, offering awards to the top three overall finishers and winners in various age groups. The Redlands Educational Partnership Foundation and Redlands Sunrise Rotary Club are the organizers, with all proceeds benefiting Redlands schools and local charities.

The Reindeer Run Riverside is a holiday-season run/walk held at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside, California, offering 5k, 10k, 15k, and half marathon distances. The start and finish are located at the park's far end. Bib pickup occurs at the park on weekend mornings, with free parking available in the park lot and along Tequesquite Avenue. The routes consist of marked out-and-back loops on a shared path, meaning participants will encounter other pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. The 5k is a single out-and-back, the 10k is two repetitions of the 5k loop, the 15k is three repetitions, and the half marathon uses three 4.36-mile loops with a 3:15 time limit. Restrooms are situated near the start and finish. The aid station at the turnaround point provides water, Gatorade, and Gu gels. Strollers are permitted, but dogs are not. Finishers receive a custom medal, a goodie bag, complimentary photos and videos, snacks, and results posted within 12 to 24 hours.

The Citrus Heritage Run begins at Arlington Heights Sports Park in Riverside, California, offering a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a 1-mile kids race for participants 12 and under. The longer races commence early, with all distances concluding by late morning, structuring the event as a focused race-day schedule rather than an extended festival. The course winds through the orange groves of California Citrus State Historic Park, allowing runners to experience the scent of citrus and orange blossoms while taking in views of the nearby mountains and the Riverside skyline. The race attracts significant local attention, with every distance having sold out in a past event. Participants receive long-sleeve tech shirts, finisher medals, and age-group awards. Live bands perform along the course, hydration stations are provided, and the finish area offers fresh orange juice from a local grove, hot food, beer, and mimosas.

The NATRO Native American Trail Marathon Championship is a trail running race series focused on increasing Native runner participation on trails. Its first sponsored event, NATRO@Soboba, took place in La Jacinta, California, on the Soboba Indian Reservation. This event offered 25-kilometer and 5-kilometer races, deviating from a marathon-only format. Participants could register in either Open or Native divisions, accommodating Native competition while also welcoming the broader trail running community. The series originated from the Native American Trail Running Organization, established by Sheldon Subith with assistance from Native race directors. Subith contributes a runner's and coach's perspective to the initiative; he is a skilled masters trail runner and coaches cross country at Noli Indian School in San Jacinto. NATRO@Soboba also connected the race to youth running, allocating a portion of the proceeds to Noli Indian School’s cross country and track programs. The initial development was practical and community-focused from the outset; Subith mentioned NATRO began as a concept and required more time than anticipated to reach its inaugural Soboba race.

Bedrock Valley Trail Runs is a spring trail race series in Hemet, California, held around Diamond Valley Lake. All courses are on unpaved trails. The series includes a full marathon, half marathon, 15K, 10K, Stroller 5K, and a 1 Mile Kid's Fun Run, catering to trail runners and families, not just long-distance racers. The race begins early and maintains a small field with a 400-participant limit and no prize money. The location has a unique history: the lake area is situated on bedrock where remains of hundreds of mastodons and other prehistoric animals were discovered. The event has been held annually since 2012 as an American Trail Running Association member race.

Run for mental health and walk for community. Every step helps expand access to healing-centered programs for youth and adults. This 4th Annual gathering supports initiatives that strengthen our community, helping secure a larger facility and provide scholarships for underserved youth. Move with purpose alongside participants of all ages and fitness levels at Claremont High School.

Run on Memorial Day on a flat, fast, out-and-back course near Diamond Valley Lake. This race is for everyone, from seasoned runners to beginners, and the whole family. Finishers receive custom medals and technical shirts. The course is near Southern California wineries and Old Town Temecula.