NC Fossil Fest 5K

The in-person NC Fossil Fest 5K run will be held on Sunday, May 24, at 8:00 am in Aurora, NC.

Join us for our Annual NC Fossil Festival 5K Fossil Run! The 5K will take place in the Town of Aurora. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Aurora Fossil Museum.  Race bibs can be picked up on race day in front of the Aurora Fossil Museum at 7:00 a.m.  Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. so you can park in the designated Festival Parking (grass lots south of Main Street), walk to the Race Start, and pick up your bib before 7:50 a.m. If you arrive after 7:45 a.m., you may be late starting the race.  After the race, stay and enjoy the Fossil Festival activities! Dig for fossils, visit the food and product vendors, and explore the educational booths!

All runners participating in-person will be eligible for awards.  Awards will be given for the Top 3 Overall Male/Female, as well as the Top 3 age group awards for Male/Female.  

If you can't make it to the in-person event, you can opt to participate in our virtual event from May 17 to May 31. See Virtual FAQ's for more information. An $8 shipping fee will be added to the registration fee to cover the cost of mailing your race packet to you.

All racers, whether in-person or virtual, will receive a custom Finisher's Medal to commemorate participation in this year's Fossil Fest 5K! 

All racers signing up by April 22nd will also receive a 2026 North Carolina Fossil Festival T-shirt!  Encourage your family and friends to sign up with you for this jaw-some swag!

Register and complete either the 5K Run or the Virtual 5K and receive the 2026 NC Fossil Festival 5K Finisher Medal! A perfect addition to any awards/trophy case and some really cool bragging rights while supporting the Aurora Fossil Museum!

IMAGE TBA

Beat the rush on Festival Sunday!

Get here early for the 5K run and stay to dig in the pits and participate in the Festivities for the rest of the day!  Parking will be in the two fields shown below - there will be Festival Parking signs at the entrances to the fields.  No parking will be allowed along the race route.

Here is the Course Map for the Memorial Day NC Fossil Fest 5K!  Start and Finish at same location on Main Street.

What is a virtual run? A virtual race is an event where you sign up and participate on a course of your choosing (or a treadmill). This is a great opportunity to work towards your running goals, stay healthy and support a great cause, when you are unable to join in-person! The event will feature a leaderboard so you can still see how you stack up against your fellow competitors!

Where do I run? You can run at a course of your choosing, including on a treadmill. 

When do I run? You can run (or walk or swim or crawl or bike - just get moving!) anytime from May 17 - May 31, 2026.

Will this race be timed? The virtual run will not be officially timed, but by using the RaceJoy app, you can receive a GPS-based time which will automatically submit your time for you. There will be an online leaderboard showing everyone's times.

How do I post my results? The easiest way is to use RaceJoy during the race! If you choose not to use RaceJoy, then you can visit the results page and click the "Submit Virtual Results" link at the top of the page.

When/how will I get my swag? Swag will be shipped to your registration address after the end of the Virtual Race - You do not need to submit your 5k time or date to us.  If you register, you will be shipped your swag - How and when you complete the 5K is up to you.

This event is timed by Run the East! With professional race timing services and a focus on delivering accurate results, 
we’re here to make your race day seamless and enjoyable. Learn more at runtheeast.com.