5K races near Springdale

The Hero Half Marathon is a Fayetteville race-day fundraiser featuring a 13.1-mile half marathon, a 2-person relay, a quarter marathon, a 5K, and a Spark One Mile. The Spark Foundation and Fayetteville Firefighters' IAFF Local 2866 organize the event. A 15-week training program for the half marathon is also available. The race supports local organizations and community fitness initiatives, aligning with The Spark Foundation's mission to support schools, health, and active living. A notable tradition is the Firefighter Challenge, where participants run the half marathon in full bunker gear. Age-group awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in each division. The event is held in conjunction with The Spark Foundation's Cow Paddy Run and Turkey Trot-n-Trek 1K and 5K.

The Goblin Run is a Halloween 5K and kids fun run in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The race starts at 7:30 AM, with a course that begins and ends downtown. It is part of the Bentonville Running Series and is designed for families and runners focused on time: first-timers, children, and experienced racers can all participate in the same morning. Costumes are a primary feature. Participants are encouraged to run the course dressed as goblins, superheroes, ghosts, pirates, ballerinas, or other spooky characters. A costume contest for kids and adults follows the race. Every runner receives a shirt and finisher medal. The Kids Fun Run starts after the last 5K runner completes the course, and dogs are not permitted on the course for safety reasons.

The Bentonville Gobbler 5k is a Thanksgiving morning family race in Bentonville, Arkansas, starting at 1101 SW Citizen Cir. The event offers a timed 5K and a One Mile Fun Run, both taking place in the early morning from 7:30 to 8:30 AM CST, allowing participants to enjoy the rest of the day for Thanksgiving dinner. This is a small community event, now in its fourth year. Participants receive medals and water, the 5K is professionally timed, and results are posted on the race page afterward. Runners can approach it as a competitive event despite the holiday atmosphere.

The Salute to Veterans 5K/10K/Half Marathon is a trail race series in Rogers, Arkansas, offering 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances. Runners begin at the Blossom Way Trailhead. This event focuses on honoring veterans, going beyond a typical race format. Veterans may register without charge by presenting a valid government-issued veteran ID. All participants will receive custom finisher awards. Additionally, the race provides shirts, overall awards, and age-group awards for competitive runners.

Turkey Trails - Fayetteville is a Thanksgiving-themed running event in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with choices from a short kids' dash up to a half marathon. The main menu covers 5K, 10K, and half marathon races, plus an untimed 1 Mile option and a Kid's Dash for children ages 10 and under. Races start at 8 a.m., and runners who cannot be there in person can choose a virtual option and still earn the event swag. The setup leans family-friendly rather than hardcore-only: kids get their own dash, children 12 and under have reduced pricing for the 5K and 10K, and kids can even run the dash for free if they skip the swag. Timed events use chip timing with live results and awards, while the 1 Mile and Kid's Dash stay untimed. Finishers receive items such as custom bibs, designer shirts, and medals, with free race photos and treats waiting after the finish.

The Saline County Strider Turkey Trot 5k is a Thanksgiving-season 5K in Benton, Arkansas, hosted by the Saline County Striders. It starts at the corner of Market and Sevier, with packet pickup and race-day registration at 200 N. Market Street by First United Methodist Church. Race-day signup is available at the registration booth, leaving room for last-minute runners. Shirts are handled separately from the basic entry. Runners who register early can get one on race day. Later registrants may need to pick one up in December at Retro Rose in Benton. There is also a no-shirt option that cuts the registration price by $10.

The Turkey Trot-n-Trek is a Thanksgiving Day race held in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Participants can choose between a 5K "trot" or a 1K "trek." This family-friendly event, now in its fifth year, begins both distances at the Upper Ramble. The 1K route winds through downtown, suitable for children before the holiday meal. The 5K offers a longer course for runners and walkers on Thanksgiving morning. Fayetteville is accessible from surrounding towns via Interstate 49.

Freedom Frosty is a December 5K in Bentonville, Arkansas, starting at Lawrence Plaza just north of the Downtown Bentonville Square. The race begins at 8:00 AM and serves as a winter-season kickoff, with runners and walkers participating in a short community race rather than a long-distance challenge. The event partners with Camp Alliance, which supports Veterans, Military members, and their families through readiness and resiliency programs. Packet pickup occurs before race day, and there is no race-day registration. Every participant receives a shirt, with supplies managed through pickup. Dogs are not allowed on the course for safety. Volunteers assist as course marshals, finish-line crew, and Ready For Anything team members, with marshals directing traffic around the route.

Cami’s 20th birthday 5K is a casual 5K run/walk in Fayetteville, Arkansas, starting from 4451 N Vantage Dr. It is built around Cami’s birthday, and the invitation is simple: if you see it, you are invited. The event is not presented as a formal race or an elite competition; it reads like a personal birthday gathering that uses a 5K as the shared activity. Runners and walkers can participate, and more details are posted at camisbirthdayrun.com.