Fire House 5K by The Brunswick Fire Foundation

Get ready to move to the beat at the Glynn Academy Band 5K Run/Walk, where the music follows you every step of the way! This isn’t just a race—it’s a walk-through concert featuring live performances by the Glynn Academy Band along the route. Don’t miss the highlight of the event, the Music Mile, where runners and walkers will be surrounded by sound as the band brings the energy to every note. All proceeds go toward new instruments and equipment to keep our music program thriving. Lace up, tune in, and join us for a one-of-a-kind rhythm-filled run!

Bike Walk Golden Isles, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is partnering up with the City of Brunswick for a bike rodeo as part of Georgia Cities Week on Wednesday, April 22nd from 4-6 PM at (location TBD)!

Join us for the FREE community event with a bike rodeo designed for children and youth ages 3-12. All are welcome!

BWGI and our partner organizations will be onsite leading this activity with trained LCIs and volunteer staff.

More information to come!

RACE DATE: MAY 2ND, 2026

RACE TIME: 8:00AM

Join Risley Middle School in their second annual Risley Run and Wildcat Walk! Take your pick on whether you want to RUN or WALK. All proceeds from this event will support Risley Middle School student organizations and athletic teams. The Risley Run is hosted by Risley Middle School FBLA, a student organization that supports the development of well-rounded students.

The 5k run will start at 8:00am and wind through neighborhoods along South Port Parkway. The Start and Finish line will be in front of Risley Middle School. All runners will receive a tshirt. Event will be chipped timed and results posted.

Runners and walkers are encouraged to hang around for the Awards Ceremony following the race. Come join in on the fun while also supporting some great students!

THE DEADLINE TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT IS APRIL 21ST.

Packet Pick-Up will be on Friday, May 1st at Risley Middle School from 5:00-6:30 pm. Packets can also be picked up on race morning!

In the fight against cancer, silence is the last thing we need. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Glynn County event will be held in downtown Brunswick on Friday, May 8th. The Relay For Life movement features community events that offer an inspiring opportunity to honor cancer survivors, remember those who have had cancer, and raise money to help end cancer. This year we’re excited to be adding a 5k run to the list of community events!

The 5k run will start at 6:30pm and wind through historic downtown Brunswick. All runners will receive a tshirt and medal. Event will be timed and results posted.

5k Runners are invited to join us before the race to cheer on our survivors as they take the symbolic Survivor Lap. Know a survivor? Please invite them to walk. Stick around afterward to enjoy the festivities of our BLOCKPARTY, featuring live music by the incredible South of Savannah Band, yummy food trucks, and fun family activities. Bring your loved ones to cheer you on and enjoy the fun. Remember to bring your own chair, so you can unwind and fully enjoy the experience. See you there!

For more information, register as survivor, or to create a team to participate visit us at www.relayforlife.org/GlynnGA

42nd Annual July 4th Sunshine Festival 5k Race and 1-mile on St Simons Island!

Finisher medals for all 5k and 1-mile finishers!

Website

There are many local social media and web "local event" calendars for the Golden Isles, they are not always up to date for our event in spite of our efforts. This is our OFFICAL Race Website!

Hotel Discount

Sea Palms Resort

Attention Runners! Getting a good night's rest is essential for crushing your 5k race, come stay with us at Sea Palms for a quiet and peaceful rest with a view!

Use this link for 10% off! Sea Palms Resort (travelclick.com)

IMPORTANT NOTES

Starting Line is self-seeded by average expected pace per mile

Strollers ARE ALLOWED, be careful and respectful of the Adaptive Athletes.

Dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED; this is due to insurance liability and safety issues.

PRE-RACE DAY Walk-up registration on July 3rd is available.

NO RACE DAY registrations on July 4th

RACE DAY Packet up is available on July 4th

PACKETS unclaimed by 8 am on Race Day are forfeited.

AWARDS cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change.

No shirt exchanges, until after the race has ended

Pre-Race Day Packet Pickup & Walk Up Registration

Friday, July 3rd, 4-7 pm at (Location to be determined)

Your friends or family can pick up your packet but may have to get in multiple lines.

After picking up your bib, you will proceed to a different line to pick up your shirt.

Race Day

NO RACE DAY registrations

RACE DAY packet pick up is available

Saturday, July 4th, 6 am Kings Park basketball courts (Park & Mallery streets)

Race Day 5k packet pickup: 6 am until 6:45 am

5k Race starts: 7 am

1 Mile packet pickup: 6 am until 7:45 am

1 Mile Run starts 8 am

Unclaimed packets/shirts will be forfeited at 8:15 am

Awards Ceremony: 8:30 am

Starting Line:

Start/Finish Location: St Simons Park / Kings Park, 515 Park Ave, St Simons Island, GA 31522 (Across from Mallery Park and by the basketball court)

Only the Overall Fastest Male and Female winners are scored by gun time, everyone else is by chip time including Masters and Age Group. Otherwise, your time doesn't start until you cross the starting line

The starting line will be sorted by expected pace with 10 different pace group sections.

PLEASE seed yourself in the right location. Fastest up front and slower in the back. The line will stretch all the way back to Oak Street.

The Push Rim division of 5 racing strollers for Adaptive athletes will be in front and start 2 minutes ahead of everyone else.

Starting Line Sections by Pace per Mile

Section 1: 5–6-minute pace

Section 2: 6-7-minute pace

Section 3: 7-8-minute pace

Section 4: 8-9-minute pace

Section 5: 9-10-minute pace

Section 6: 10-11-minute pace

Section 7:11-12-minute pace

Section 8:12-13-minute pace

Section 9:14-15-minute pace

Section 10: Walking

Bathrooms:

2 multi-stall bathrooms across the street in Mallery Park by the ball field,

8 bathrooms in the Village Pier Casino building on Beachview Drive (0.25 miles)

8 Porta-potties by the starting Line.

Photos:

Sports in Motion Photography will be photographing our event this year. We are providing the digital images for FREE! Please look for an email after the event with a direct link to your images or you can go to www.simphotos.com to view photos too.

Food and Snacks On-Site Race Day

Sandy Bottom Bagels - bagels

Parkers - water handing out water bottles

Georgia Watermelon Association - handing out watermelon

Pepsi & Coca Cola - donated water bottles

Fuse Frozen Yogurt - handing out frozen yogurt while it lasts

Winn-Dixie & GITC - oranges, bananas, cookies

Friendly Express - handing out water bottles

Starbucks - serving cold brew

Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery, PC / Centered on Wellness Cooling Scarves while they last.

5K ROUTE

USTAF Certified 5k route

5K Route video preview

Sunshine Festival July 4th 5k Map - MapMyRun

1 MILE ROUTE

Start and Finish will be at 5K starting Line.

Course will follow 5K course on Park Ave. turning right onto Magnolia Ave where you make a turnaround between Park and Bartow Street, stay to the right, cross Mallery Street, turn left on Oak St. and finish at the Start Line on Park Street.

The 1-mile fun run will be chip timed.

Sunshine Festival 1 Mile MAP

AWARDS

Awards cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change.

The Award Ceremony will take place at approximately 8:30 am

All 5k and 1-mile Mile participants who complete the course and are wearing a bib will receive a Finisher medal

Chip timing provided by Second Wind Timing

5k Awards:

Overall, Masters (40-49), Grand Masters (50-59), Senior Masters (60+), and top 3 male and female finishers in each age group. Age groups - 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over.

Overall & Master Awards include a medal, a bag of Vidalia Onions from Herndon Farms, and a free pair of shoes from Game Changers Running Store

Note: Overall Male and Female start time is at gun time, Masters and Age Group awards are from chip time.

1 Mile Awards:

12 and under, 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female

13 and over, 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female

Award for the Best Costume. (1st Place only, must be present at the Awards ceremony for judging)

Award for the Best Team (Largest). (1st. place)

Award for the Fastest Team. (1st, 2nd & 3rd place)

To compete in the Fastest Team awards, your team must have at least 2 men and 1 female. We take the top 2 fastest men and the fastest female (1) for a total of 3. You don't have to do anything to compete, it is automatic as long you meet these requirements.

Award for the best-decorated homes along the route. 3 awards: Patriotic, Creative, and Old Glory

Parking

Parking is a challenge, please carpool, be dropped off, ride a bike, or walk! Otherwise, you can park along Mallery Street, around the ballpark, in the village, by the library or lighthouse. Stay away from private residences.

Golden Isles Track Club uses the race proceeds to encourage and promote Good Health in the Golden Isles

July 4th Activities

Sunshine Festival Craft Show (Postell Park)

530 Beachview Drive, St. Simons, GA

Be sure to visit our 3-day festival with 60 artists and makers featuring exquisite handmade items, original art, and specialty foods. We'll have fresh lemonade and our local Kona Ice out.

Friday July 3rd 10-5

Saturday July 4th 10-5

Sunday July 5th 10-4

More at: www.facebook.com/CraftsintheVillage

Golf Cart Parade – July 4, 11:00am

Deck out your golf cart in red, white and blue and join the golf cart parade! Carts line up adjacent to Mallery Park, then make their way through the St. Simons Island Village.

Live Music – July 4

Throughout the day, live bands entertain on the bandstand in the village area.

Fireworks – July 4, 9:00pm

The annual fireworks display is launched from the pier, so the best viewing areas are Neptune Park and nearby waterfront locations. Bring a chair, sit back and enjoy the show! Parking is tight, so arrive early, walk or bike.