Little Carolina Trail Fest

We're heading south—Cleveland-style—for the Little Carolina run on June 20th! While we’re not making the trip to the real Carolinas, we are bringing the southern vibes to the Cleveland Metroparks with this fun, summer evening race.

How This Event Works

🏃‍♂️ This event features a 5K loop!.

• During registration, participants choose which distance they want to accomplish on race day
• At the finish line, participants will receive a finisher medal and a distance button to adhere to their ribbon to commemorate the distance they accomplished
• Hiking, Rucking, Walking, Running, and any speed is allowed.

After the race, stick around for a lively afterparty featuring live bluegrass music and a beer garden to toast your miles.

• The loops and start/finish will pass amongst the festivities for an atmosphere you won't want to miss

Event Timeline

• 4:30 PM – Packet Pick-Up begins
• 6:00 PM – Race starts, beer garden opens, and live music kicks off
• 8:35 PM – Runners must have started final loop
• 9:00 PM – Event concludes and sweep of course for final runners

Course Map: Little Carolina 5K Loop on Strava

Participant Swag and Perks

• Custom finisher medal + distance pin
• Custom race shirt
  • Opt out for some added savings
• Chip-timed race on one of our favorite courses with some southern charm
• Beer garden, with the first beverage on us
• Live bluegrass music 
• And a summer evening race you do not want to miss. All paces from hikers to runners are welcome.

Fest Entry ticket

Join the festivities without setting a foot on the trail!

• Beer garden with the first beverage on us
• Live bluegrass music

Lace up and join us for an evening of miles, music, and good vibes!

Rain/Inclement Weather Plan: In the case of bad weather, the race will happen. We will adjust the live music as necessary, but will not be cancelling unless severe weather.

Join fellow runners on June 20, 2026 for the Little Carolina Trail Fest. It's a fantastic 5K, 10K, 15K, 20K featuring a flat and fast course in Olmsted Falls.