Juneteenth Freedom Run/Walk

The Juneteenth Freedom 5K/5 Mile Run is an event that preserves history with significant meaning and direct community benefit. Juneteenth commemorates the day when 250,000 slaves in Texas were declared free. Our race began in 2021 when Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday and we are celebrating our 5th year! This year we are partnering with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Iota Nu Lambda Chapter for their excellence in generating scholarships for college-bound youth and launching 4 scholarships from race profits.

The goods: All participants in the live and virtual races will receive a tech shirt and medal. The live 5K/5 Mile race will receive a bag with goodies and will be eligible for placement award trophies. We will offer cash prizes for breaking the course record for the 5K and 5 mile races.

The 5 Mile race is a 20-point race in the Central Valley Runner of the Year series.

The Juneteenth Freedom Run will be held at Woodward Park.  Enter from the NE entrance (N Fort Washington Rd & N Friant Road).  Use the kiosk to pay the $5 for parking once you find a spot.

June 12th 5:00pm - 7:00pm
TBD

June 13th  6:00AM to 7:00AM

This packet pick-up is mainly for out of town registrants. Bib pickup will close at 6:45AM for the 5 mile race and 7:00AM for the 5K race.

LOCATION: Woodward Park, Fort Washington and Friant entrance; first parking lot, west of the Art of Life sign.

You are invited to join us on June 13, 2026 for the fifth anniversary of the Juneteenth Freedom Run 5K/5Mi run/walk. Juneteenth is the African American community’s addendum to Independence Day. It is a nationally recognized and celebrated holiday which commemorates the notification of the Emancipation Proclamation to Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. The Fresno community has been celebrating this historical moment for over 30 years. The run/walk is part of many Juneteenth celebration events in Fresno. 

Proceeds from the race will continue to fund scholarships for college-bound youth. Applications open on 4/1/26 and close on 4/30/26.

To participate in the run or walk at Woodward Park on 6/13/26, sign up at https://www.juneteenthfreedomrun.com/ and join a team!

Walkers and runners of all ages can enjoy the 5K distance. Competitive runners can shoot for breaking the course record and earning some cash. The record for fastest times belong to:

• Elijah Williams (2024), 16:47
• Erica Cuellar (2024), 21:43

Age group awards will be awarded to the top three males and females in each of the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.

The 5-mile run distance is twice the length that Opal Lee, the 96-year-old who is known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” walked to collect signatures to make Juneteenth a holiday. The initial 2.5 miles were a symbol that, in Texas, “the enslaved didn’t know they were free until two and a half years after the emancipation.” 

Competitive runners can shoot for breaking the course record and earning some cash. The record for fastest times belong to:

Anthony Cortes (2024), 27:44
Toni Espinoza Mundarain (2024), 38:01

Age group awards will be awarded to the top three males and females in each of the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.

• Finisher’s medal
• High quality Technical shirt 
• Tailwind Hydration along the course
• Fabulous race cheerleading
• Age group awards
• Cash awards for athletes who break race records
• Pancake breakfast

There are FREE trainings for the walk/run starting in mid April 2026. Wear comfy clothes to walk or run in, and bring water. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out the liability release form for the training.

Thursdays - Cottonwood Park in Clovis at 7:00pm starting on 4/23/26.
We'll meet at the SW corner of N Clovis Ave & Alluvial Ave, Clovis, CA 93612.
There is lots of free parking by the pond on Alluvial.

Saturdays - Woodward Park at 7:00am starting on 4/25/26. (will change as heat rises - updates on Instagram at juneteenth5k.5mi).
We'll meet at the entrance of N Fort Washington Rd & N Friant Rd, Fresno, CA 93730, inside the first parking lot, by the Art of Life sign.
Park admission is $5 and annual passes are $50 (buy at the kiosk or the City of Fresno parking office).

Thank you to the East Fresno Kiwanis for cooking a delicious pancake breakfast for race participants.

If you would like to help with this event, there are a number of ways to help:

• Any time: Share the race sign up link on your social media: https://www.juneteenthfreedomrun.com/
• April to May: If you know of a company that can sponsor, share the Race Director email with them (run4healthcoaching@gmail.com)
• June 1 to June 10: email the Race Director to make funny signs, help stuff goodie bags, or help with bib pick-up.
• Race day, June 13: help with bib pick-up, race day registration, holding funny signs near the finish line, or help with trophies.