3 events in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

April 24-25 Tahlequah Main Street will host the 18th annual Red Fern Festival. This festival celebrates the “Where the Red Fern Grows” Novel which is set in the Ozark hills in and around Tahlequah Oklahoma. The festival spans seven blocks and hosts over 150 arts and crafts vendors and gourmet food trucks, along with inflatables, petting zoos, and live music.

This year the Red Fern Festival 5k will happen on a new course that will start and finish at NSU Letters sign at the corner of Goingsnake, Muskogee, and Smith. More details on the new course route. This will be a rain or shine event, but if the weather is too much to go on, we do not have a reschedule option and it will become a virtual run.

The start for both the 5k and the fun run will be 6:30 Friday evening, April 24th. Runners will be finishing just a few blocks from food trucks and live music at the heart of the Red Fern Festival at Norris Park. So sign up and soon run, eat, and be entertained at the Red Fern Festival 5k!

This social run also encourages running with dogs, since dogs play an important role in the Red Fern Festival. For the more serious runners, this will be a chip timed race by I:40 Race Service.

Finishers medals will go to all 5k participants and trophies will be awarded to the top 3 male and female finishers.

Event Details:

Location: NSU Letters sign at campus entrance (Corner of Goingsnake, Muskogee, and Smith)

Events: 5k and Fun Run

Registration Open: 5:30 PM

Start Times: Both the 5k and Fun Run will start at 6:30 PM

Early Bird Registration Fees (Before April 7th): Fun Run for $25, 5k for $30

Full Price Registration Fees (After April 7th to Race Day): Fun Run for $30, 5k for $35

T-shirt: Must register by April 7th to get a guaranteed shirt. All registrations after, shirts that are first come first serve.

Course information coming soon, map will be posted then.

Saturday May 16 2026

In-Person 5k starts at 8:30 A.M.

In-Person 1k Fun Run starts at 8:00 A.M.

Race day registration and packet pick-up: 7 A.M. to 8:20 A.M.

Timing by: TATUR Racing

Medals to top 3 male/female standardize group in 5k

Shirts will be handed out after race completion while supplies last (Note: 5k virtual option will have shirt pick up at later date)

Coupon code for WINGS members only: BEFAST26

Race Director Contact Information

Submit results for virtual May 16 - May 23