Downtown Greenway Run & Block Party

17th Annual Downtown Greenway Run & Block Party

Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 4-8 pm

Morehead Park - 475 Spring Garden Street

The Downtown Greenway Run & Block Party is a long-standing, family-friendly event that centers around bringing the Greensboro community together, and highlighting our prized Downtown Greenway! Organized by Greensboro Parks and Recreation, this year's 17th annual event is again part of the 2026-2027 Triad Race Series, in conjunction with Fleet Feet, Junction 311, and our valued sponsors. 

Registration

Choose to walk or run the 1-mile untimed or 4-mile timed event, and stay for a fabulous block party to follow! The 1-mile will follow a down-and-back route along the new Western Branch section of the Downtown Greenway, while the 4-mile route will follow the complete loop! All registered participants will receive:

• Custom bib and t-shirt for this year's event - sizes guaranteed for registrations through September 13
• Pre-run warm-up
• Post-run snacks
• Drink voucher
• Free prize drawing entry for a chance to win some amazing goodies

Registration fees will increase on August 1, September 1, and event day on September 26. Be sure to sign-up early for the best possible rates! Special discounts are automatically applied for all youth ages 4-17 years old (children age 3 and under are free, but will not receive a t-shirt with their registration).

Packet Pick-Up

Participant packet pick-up will be on Friday, September 25 from 3-6 pm (Fleet Feet Greensboro). All registrants who pick-up on Friday afternoon will be entered to win a special prize, courtesy of our generous sponsors! Alternately, packets may be collected prior to the event on Saturday, September 26, beginning at 3:30 pm.

Schedule

The full event takes place between 4-8 pm, and the schedule is packed full of fun! Our official event welcome will start at 4 pm. We will have our first group warm-up at 4:15 pm, before the 1-mile fun run/walk/stroll begins at 4:30 pm. There will be another group warm-up at 4:45 pm, before the 4-mile timed event begins at 5:00 pm. Then stick around until 8 pm and enjoy the block party fun afterwards!

Block Party

The block party is centered around the Morehead Park Trailhead and extends along Spring Garden Street. There will be delicious food to purchase from several local food trucks, live music, and beer available for purchase. The fun continues with tailgate-style games to play, children's activities, face painting, sponsor tents with giveaways, local vendor booths to visit, prize drawings and more! Don't miss the fun and register for the run - we'll see you on the Downtown Greenway with your friends, family, kids, or dogs.

Parking

Event parking details will be shared closer to the date.

Event Proceeds

As our main fundraiser annually, proceeds will help support the free community programming offered year-round along the Downtown Greenway! Programs offered include workshops and activities related to environmental education, health and wellness, youth activities, arts and culture, social gathering, guided tours, and other community engagement opportunities. Thank you for supporting our efforts to provide unique and quality programs for the Greensboro community!

About the Downtown Greenway

The Downtown Greenway is a 4-mile paved multi-use urban trail that encircles and defines downtown Greensboro. All 4 miles are now complete and open for use, as of May 16, 2026 at the Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting. The Downtown Greenway enhances the urban landscape with green space that encourages economic development, promotes health and well-being, inspires sustainable transportation, and provides connections between Greensboro neighborhood residents around the city.

The 1-Mile will follow an out-and-back course, with a turnaround point at the halfway mark.

This event is considered a "fun run" by nature, and is catered to the more casual or non-competitive runner. This is not a closed course; participants should be prepared to possibly wait temporarily at a street crossing until directed to do so safely by a police officer. While major intersections will be monitored by Greensboro Police Department, other smaller intersections on the Downtown Greenway route will not be closed. Participants should use caution when approaching all street crossings along the route. Please familiarize yourself with the course route in advance, so you know what to expect on event day.

The 4-mile will follow a full loop course around the entire Downtown Greenway.

This event is considered a "fun run" by nature, and is catered to the more casual or non-competitive runner. This is not a closed course; participants should be prepared to possibly wait temporarily at a street crossing until directed to do so safely by a police officer. While major intersections will be monitored by Greensboro Police Department, other smaller intersections on the Downtown Greenway route will not be closed. Participants should use caution when approaching all street crossings along the route. Please familiarize yourself with the course route in advance, so you know what to expect on event day.

Awards will be given for the timed 4-Mile event only.

All awards have been generously provided by sponsor Fleet Feet, and will be distributed for the following categories/age brackets:

• Top 3 Overall (Female and Male)
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Female and Male) within each age bracket:
  • 14 and under
  • 15-19
  • 20-24
  • 25-29
  • 30-34
  • 35-39
  • 40-44
  • 45-49
  • 50-54
  • 55-59
  • 60-64
  • 65-69
  • 70 and over

Award winners should collect their prize on-site at the event; any unclaimed will be made available for pick-up the week following the event, however, no awards will be mailed.

This event is considered a "fun run" by nature, and is catered to the more casual or non-competitive runner. This is not a closed course; participants should be prepared to possibly wait temporarily at a street crossing until directed to do so safely by a police officer. While major intersections will be monitored by Greensboro Police Department, other smaller intersections on the Downtown Greenway route will not be closed. Participants should use caution when approaching all street crossings along the route. Please familiarize yourself with the course route in advance, so you know what to expect on event day.

The 4-Mile event will be timed using bib-tag timing chips, located on the back of the bib number, which do not need to be returned after the run. The 4-Mile event is a chip time start, meaning your time will not start until you reach the start timing mat. Make sure you cross the starting line under the arch (and cross the finish line under the arch) for your chip to be recognized. Keep your bib number clearly visible on the front of your body. Final chip time is the time when your chip crosses the finish timing mat, which is how awards will be determined.

All registered participants (1 Mile and/or 4-Mile) are also automatically entered into a number of different prize drawings, which will be announced on Saturday throughout the event.

As you can tell from the event name, the fun does not stop after the run...stick around for even more festivities!

The Block Party is OPEN TO EVERYONE to come out and attend!

Street closures will be along Spring Garden Street for the block party festivities! There will be delicious food to purchase from several local food trucks, live music, and beer to purchase. The fun continues, featuring:

• Live music (Band TBD 5-8 pm)
• Tailgate-style games
• Photo booth
• Face painting
• Maker's Market
• Local vendors & organizations
• Food trucks
• Children's activities
• Special giveaways
• ...and more!

Food Trucks

• Coming soon!

Participating Vendors & Organizations

• Coming soon!

Don't miss out on picking up your shirt - take a look at this year's design!

NOTE: preferred t-shirt sizes are guaranteed for everyone who registers by the end of September 13 (then remaining sizes will be distributed first-come, first-served for registrations from September 14 or later).

Primary Packet Pick-Up

We encourage all participants to join us for the main packet pick-up on Friday, September 25 from 3-6 pm at Fleet Feet Greensboro. Everyone who collects their race packet on Friday afternoon will be entered to win a special prize from our generous sponsors!

Fleet Feet Greensboro
3731 Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC 27455

Alternate Packet Pick-Up

Saturday, September 26 from 3:30-4:45 pm
Morehead Park Trailhead on the Downtown Greenway
475 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC  27401

Parking information will be posted closer to event date.

Please do NOT park in any nearby business parking lots, out of respect for our local neighbors and their customers.

Wednesday, September 23

6-7 pm        Volunteer Meeting (virtual)

Friday, September 25

3-6 pm        Primary packet pick-up (Fleet Feet Greensboro)

Saturday, September 26

ONGOING FOR EVERYONE:

4-8 pm          Block Party - music, food, beverages, sponsor tents, prizes, vendor booths, games and more!

5-8 pm          Live music - band announcement coming soon!

FOR 1-MILE AND 4-MILE PARTICIPANTS:

3:30 pm        On-site registration and alternate packet pick-up (Morehead Park Trailhead)
4 pm             Welcome / Opening Remarks
4:15 pm        Group warm-up / stretch before 1-Mile
4:30 pm        1-Mile start
4:45 pm        Group warm-up / stretch before 4-Mile
5 pm             4-Mile start
6:15 pm        Awards (pending last finisher's timing)
8 pm             Event ends

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

This event could not happen without the help from community members volunteering their time!

We will need people to assist with a variety of roles, including: packet pick-up, on-site registration, hospitality, water stations, course monitors, block party activities, and more.

Volunteer Shift Sign-up Coming Soon!

All volunteers will receive a custom 2026 event t-shirt and snacks/refreshments during their shift, and must attend a pre-event (virtual) Volunteer Meeting on Wednesday, September 23 from 6-7 pm.