Hope Watermelon 5K
Hope Watermelon 5K logo

Hope Watermelon 5K

Hope, Arkansas, United States View on map
Aug 08, 2026 (America/Chicago local time)
Running

About this race

•Race hosted by the Melonvine Striders.   

*USATF Course Certification #: AR24012WJT

-Every participant receives a locally grown genuine Hope Watermelon :)

-High School Track Girls / Boys Team Competition (Need 5 girls and/or 5 boys for a team) Please email race for instructions.

XXL shirts are available for a limited time for $ 2.00 extra.  Sign up early! Awards Overall Top 3 Male and Female in Open, Masters, Grandmasters and Senior. Overall top 3 Male and Female Walkers, Top 3 Wheelchairs, Girls and Boys High School Track team award.  Awards are given 3 deep in the following age groups: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 and over.   

Directions to the Starting Line

From I-30 take Exit 30 onto AR-Hwy 32/73, and proceed southeast into Hope. Drive ~1.5 miles, then turn right at the 3rd stop light onto US-Hwy 67 (3rd St). Drive west 3 blocks and take a left onto Fulton St. Drive (Hwy 174 ) south for 1/2 mile until reach Park Dr. Turn right and the start/finish area is right before park entrance. . 

Address: 1251 Park Drive, Fair Park, Hope, AR

Race History

The Watermelon 5K was established in 1978 though in the first few years the race distance was 4 miles. The race has been part of the Arkansas RRCA Grand Prix Series since 1994.

Course Description  

Race starts leaving Fair park and going East on Park drive. Mostly flat with a few winding turns, then heading to Elm street going back north for two blocks lining up for the long straight away on Main.  

Runners continue along Main St rewarded with a small gradual downhill until near the 1.5 mile point. Main St then moves gradually back uphill and the race route continues this gradual incline after making a right turn onto 16th street until just before the 2 mile marker. 

At this point the course is gradually downhill until after the turn onto Grady Street, where the route levels off. The now weary runners will take Grady north to 7th Street where a left turn is made. The route angles to the southwest onto Park Dr. The road then turns back due west for the final straightaway. It is now time for the runners to begin their finishing kicks as the 3 mile marker and the finish line back in Fair Park are finally in sight!

For further information, contact:
Don Still, Race Director

Email

Pick your distance

Running

5k Runner

Aug 08, 2026 5K 7:30 AM
$30.00
Closed

5k Walker

Aug 08, 2026 5K 7:30 AM
$30.00
Closed

5k Wheelchair

Aug 08, 2026 5K 7:25 AM
$30.00
Closed

Typical race-day weather

Based on 13 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Hope.

Temp (°C)
Minimum temperature (race-day average) 24.0° / Maximum temperature (race-day average) 33.6°
Feels Like (°C)
Minimum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-day average) 24.0° / Maximum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-day average) 45.2°
Wind (km/h)
Average wind speed (race-day average)
11.7
Precip (mm)
Average precipitation (race-day average)
3.0mm
Humidity
Average relative humidity (race-day average)
69.3%

Course

Route map and elevation profile

No course map published yet.

The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.

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Results — Hope Watermelon 5K

2023 edition View Results
2022 edition View Results
2021 edition View Results
2020 edition View Results
2019 edition View Results
2018 edition View Results
2017 edition View Results
2016 edition View Results
2015 edition View Results

Other races near Hope

Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months

Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.

  • Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
  • Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
  • Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
  • Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 1 Hope event

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