11 walking events in Puyallup, Washington

Join us for a fun summer run/walk through beautiful Downtown Puyallup!

Participants will run or walk along sidewalks and through one of Puyallup’s vibrant neighborhoods, taking in the charm and local flavor along the way.

The event will start and finish at the Lazy Ballerina Wine Bar,

📍 319 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371

After you cross the finish line, stick around and enjoy amazing mimosas and Sunday brunch at the Lazy Ballerina. Looking for a more family-friendly post-race option? Head just up the street to our fantastic partners at Firemind Brewing and CaskCades, where everyone can continue the fun.

Whether you’re running, walking, or strolling, this is the perfect way to kick off a summer Sunday! ☀️👟🍾

Registration includes custom medal, custom race bib and race day snacks.

Join us for our 16th Annual "Little Steps, Big Dreams" race! Embrace the distance over 10K, walk/run our 5K family-friendly race, or have your littles do the Kids Dash!

Register before August 16th to be guaranteed a race shirt.

Pricing Schedule:

March 16 - March 30, $35 2-week special pricing

March 31 - June 30, $45

July 1 - Sept 18, $55

Race day registration, $65

COURSE INFORMATION

The starting and ending location of each race will be at The Grove (our outdoor preschool off of 33rd St. SE). Runners and walkers will head out of the site and through the Van Lierop Park, eventually turning left and onto the Foothills Trail. This is subject to change.

RACE TIMELINE

8:00 AM - Kids Dash (must be with parents)

8:15 AM - Group Photo

8:25 AM - Warm-up with Coach Sue

8:30 AM - 10K Start

8:40 AM - 5K Start

9:50 AM - Course closes

We encourage you to carpool and arrive early to find parking!

RACE ROUTE

The official 5K and 10K race routes will be uploaded soon!

PACKET PICKUP

It is highly recommended to pick up your bib number and race shirt at the Step By Step offices (next door to Farm 12 Restaurant) on the pickup day listed below.

Location:

3303 8th Ave SE, Unit #A

Puyallup, WA 98372

When:

Thursday, Sept 17 from 9 AM - 7 PM.

Please note, packets will not be available for pickup before 9am on Sept. 17th. Please do not call the office with packet pickup questions, if you have questions, please email: [email protected].

Packets will be available for pick up on race morning starting at 6:30 AM at the packet picket tent at The Grove. However, we strongly encourage you to pick up your packet on Thursday to avoid long lines and ensure a smooth race day experience.

FUNDRAISE

We’re working together to raise $55,000 to support the mission of Step By Step. Recruit your friends, family, and colleagues to join your team or invite them to make a donation in your name. Help us raise critical funds needed to help transform the lives of at-risk pregnant women, so they will deliver healthy babies, embrace positive parenting, and establish safe homes and secure futures.

FINISHERS CELEBRATION

After you finish your run, enjoy Happy Donuts donut holes, coffee, tasty treats, a kids zone, and lots more!

RAFFLE

Bring a package of diapers and/or wipes and be entered into our raffle drawing for some great prizes!

THANK YOU for partnering with us to build strong families in our community.

All proceeds from this event go to support Step By Step and help local moms and babies in need.

Join us in celebrating the rich history of the Puyallup Valley with a scenic run along the river!

This is a fast and relatively flat course, perfect for chasing a PR or enjoying a smooth, scenic run through the valley.

The START/FINISH line is located on the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail behind Fred Meyer. The 10K will head toward Sumner along the river. The Half Marathon will continue through Van Lierop Park and onto the Foothills Trail, showcasing some of the area’s most scenic paths. The course includes a mix of paved trail, sidewalks, and a few street crossings.

🏅 Awards will be presented to the top two male and female finishers in both the Half Marathon and 10K.

⚠️ Participant limit: This event is limited to 200 total registrants for safety reasons.

Registration Includes:

Finisher medal

Chipped timing bib

Post-race snacks

👕 First 60 registrants will receive a short-sleeve event shirt.

⏱ Half Marathon time limit: 4 hours.

5Ks are fun. Beer is fun. 5Ks & Beer are typically not a natural pairing….typically. However, on Sunday, October 5th, the best of both worlds collide for the second annual STEIN DASH – and this year will again be EXCITING, for sure! (How you ask? Keep reading…).

So, here's the plan. You and your bestest friends are going to meet us at the start line Sunday morning. You're going to wander over to packet pickup where you will receive a pretty sweet Commemorative Stein, an awesome event shirt, a bib number, and a high-five. Then we shoot off our gun and you get running.

3.1 miles is no marathon but it still requires a pit stop (or three) and honestly water at on-course stops are a thing of the past. Grab your Stein, fill it up with a different beer at each of our three Beer Zones and chug, sip, sample, taste, pound – however you want to do it – just drink that beer and get back on the course because the clock still runs as you drink.

We are all going to be super proud of you when you finish the race, so we'd like to celebrate with a free entry into Oktoberfest! All you have to do is keep walking….the Finish Line is going to aim you right into the amazing Festhalle at Oktoberfest NW. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. The beer will be flowing, there's football on TVs, huge selection of awesome beer, food, WEINER DOG RACES, and of course… MORE BEER.

Returning This Year – The Kids Root Beer Run! Now there's a race for the under 21s! Kids 10 and under can register now for the Root Beer Run. A 1/2 Mile Kids Run with the same premise as the adults. Run, Chug Run! At the halfway mark, kids will be greeted with a root beer to chug before racing to the finish line. All registered kids will receive an awesome kids root beer run shirt, stein, and root beer inside Oktoberfest!

There isn't a lot more to tell you about – so just go ahead and click that "register" button at the top of the page and get signed up before we sell out

To allow beer stop volunteers a better opportunity to keep the beer flowing, we're asking participants to select a starting corral. Choices will be 10:00am, 10:20am, 10:40am - select your start time, tell your friends and get ready to Stein Dash!

ALL participants will receive:

A Sweet Stein Dash Race Shirt

A Commemorative Tasting Stein

3 On Course Beer Stops

Free Entry Into Oktoberfest (This year, a post-run beer is NOT included, but we'll hook you up on course)

Any questions? Shoot us an email, we'll make sure to get you answers and promise you'll still have a blast!

We’re back from the beyond for the Haunted Hustle 5K & 10K Run/Walk—a fun, costume-themed, non-timed, and family-friendly Halloween tradition! Come dressed for fun, grab your friends, and kick off Halloween with a bang. A prize will be awarded for Best Overall Costume, so get creative!

Participation is limited to the first 200 registrants across the 5K and 10K, so don’t wait—this spooky favorite fills fast.

Both races feature a course starting at Clarks Creek South in Puyallup, taking participants on a memorable run/walk through the cemetery, with a mix of sidewalks and off-the-beaten-path sections for a hauntingly good time.

Registration includes:

Event bib

Finisher medal

After-race snacks

Prize Drawing

Whether you’re running, walking, or just in it for the costumes and community, Haunted Hustle is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween. Important: For the safety of all participants and pets, NO pets are allowed on the course.

Costumes on, spirits high—join us if you dare! 🎃👻

🎄✨ Ugly Sweater & Elf Dash – Christmas Eve 5K Run/Walk ✨🎄

Join us for the 8th Annual Christmas Eve Ugly Sweater & Elf Dash 5K Run/Walk at Bradley Lake Park in Puyallup, WA—the most festive Christmas Eve run/walk in Pierce County! Kick off your holiday with a bang at this fun, family-friendly tradition set in Puyallup, a true Hallmark community.

Break out your ugliest sweater, dress as your favorite holiday elf, and soak in the Christmas cheer. With holiday inflatables, Santa’s house, and the much-anticipated arrival of Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, this event has become a can’t-miss tradition for families year after year. Whether you’re running, walking, or simply enjoying the magic of Christmas Eve, this event is all about joy, community, and holiday spirit.

🎁 Event highlights:

• Christmas Eve 5K Run/Walk

• Elf Dash (ages 3–9) — about 1K through the magical inflatable lane

• Family-friendly and festive atmosphere

• Holiday inflatables & Santa’s house

• A true Puyallup holiday tradition

👕 Swag note:

Long-sleeve shirts are available for purchase for $25 through December 5th—don’t wait! 2XL and 3XL add $5.

Elf Dash shirts are available for purchase for $20 through December 5th. Youth sizes Small - XL.

Registration includes:

• 5K Run/Walk: Event bib, finisher medal, and after-race goodies

• Elf Dash: Event bib, goodie bag and commemorative Elf Dash button

⚠️ Disclaimer:

Children under the age of 16 must participate in the 5K with a parent or guardian.

Again this year, we’re asking registrants to participate in the 24 Days of Giving! The campaign starts on December 1st. Grab one shelf-stable item for the Skoolie Foundation to help fill Boxes of Hope (food boxes).

Make memories, start a tradition, and celebrate Christmas Eve the best way possible—running (or walking) into the holidays together! 🎅🎄