One of St. Pete’s favorite annual traditions is back. St. Pete Run Fest returns to the city November 13–15, bringing thousands of runners and spectators to downtown St. Pete for three days of fitness and community celebration.
There are more than half a dozen races and events, and kids are getting a star turn this year thanks to the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete Pelikids Youth Runs. Three different runs provide options for kids everyone from one year old to 8th grade, and all of it helps fund charities providing support to children with cancer and their families, through the American Cancer Society’s Gold Together campaign.
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Another big piece this year: some of TV’s and the Tampa Bay Area’s most loved mascots will be joining the fun as they participate in a race against each other in front of the festival crowd in the Tampa Bay Mascot Championship. Imagine the mascot races around the warning track at Rays games, but with double-digit mascots in the open air of Downtown St. Pete’s waterfront. It’s a wild scene and one of the most entertaining parts of the entire festival.
Altogether, it’s one of the best and biggest weekends on the fall calendar in St. Pete every year. More than 12,000 runners are expected this year, with upwards of 30,000 total attendees.
Main events include the Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon, the Orlando Health St. Pete Run Fest 10K, and the LMCU St. Pete Run Fest 5K, alongside the three youth runs. To make it even healthier for the city, St. Pete Run Fest will be an ocean-friendly event with no single-use plastics.
Run Fest is fun for the whole family
Each course showcases the best of the Sunshine City, from the Dali Museum and Central Avenue to the scenic waterfront and St. Pete Pier. Families can enjoy the Pelikids Youth Runs, offering fun distances for ages 1–13. The Lil’ Shrimp Fun Runs feature a 0.05K run for 1-2-year-olds and a 0.1K run for preschoolers aged 3-4. The Foundation for Healthy St Pete Pelikids One Miler, designed for kids 5-13, takes them along the scenic downtown St. Pete waterfront.
For furry family members, the VEG ER for Pets Dog Walk will benefit VEG Cares. This half-mile walk/run begins at Albert Whitted Park and ends at the St. Pete Run Fest finish line on Bayshore Drive. If anything can top the mascot championship for fan favorite, it’s this one.
In addition to the races, the Good Sweat Festival at Albert Whitted Park will take place Friday through Sunday. This celebratory event will feature local artists, live music, food, and drink, along with vendors offering the latest in fitness, training, nutrition, and sports apparel.
Enjoy the Sunshine City while supporting locals in need
A portion of proceeds from every mile run will go to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic to support their We Help FRESH Pantry and Mobile Pantry, providing nutritious food to 20,000 Pinellas County neighbors each month. Registration for all events can be found here.
Every mile run at St. Pete Run Fest helps give back to the community. Proceeds support local organizations, including:
- St. Pete Free Clinic: providing nutritious food to over 30,000 residents each month
- Gold Together (American Cancer Society): raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research
- St. Pete Youth Farm: empowering young leaders through urban farming and sustainability
- Jump for Kids: promoting healthy habits and fitness for ages 5–17
Pick your favorite race, or go for them all
Each race offers scenic views, with varying distances and routes, so runners may want to add a second or third race to their itinerary. St. Pete Run Fest shared descriptions of each race course:
Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon: Your run starts on Bayshore Drive next to the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum, overlooking the waters of Tampa Bay. From there head up 1st Avenue South past the USFSP campus. Then take a tour through the Grand Central District, EDGE District, The Deuces, and Warehouse Arts District as you head back on Central Avenue, with its unique shops and restaurants. Once back on the scenic waterfront, run through the historic Old Northeast and Snell Isle neighborhoods, before a photo finish on Bayshore Drive next to the Mahaffey Theater Plaza.
The Orlando Health 10K: Experience the heart of St. Pete with this 6.2 mile course through downtown, the scenic waterfront, and the spectacular St Pete Pier. Your run starts on Bayshore Drive next to the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum, overlooking the waters of Tampa Bay. From there head downtown onto Central Avenue, with its unique shops and restaurants, then back to the waterfront, featuring a run on the spectacular St. Pete Pier, before finishing on Bayshore Drive in front of the Mahaffey Theater.
The LMCU St. Pete Run Fest 5K: Known as the ‘Sunshine City,’ St. Pete holds the Guinness record for most consecutive sunny days – 768 to be exact. Join in the Run Fest weekend on Saturday with a 3.1 mile run/walk along St. Pete’s beautiful waterfront, including the spectacular St Pete Pier. Set a PR on this flat and fast course, or run/walk just for fun with your family and friends.
VEG ER for Pets PeliPaws Dog Walk: Bring your favorite pooch and join our VEG PeliPAWS Dog Walk/Run to benefit VEG Cares. If you have a dog/people-friendly dog who enjoys walking on a leash, and wants to feel like they’re part of a BIG pack, then this fun event is for you!
Foundation for Healthy St Pete Pelikids Youth Runs: Saturday’s kids runs take place on Bayshore Boulevard, letting little runners cross the finish line at The Mahaffey. Events include Lil’ Shrimp Fun Runs, the PeliKids One Miler, and the PeliKids Marathon Challenge.
Full course maps and registration are available at stpeterunfest.org.
