NAACP GEORGE V. TANKARD, JR. MEMORIAL 5K Run/Walk AND 1 MILE FUN RUN
About this race
Lace up for a scenic 5K with purpose!
Join us for a lively and picturesque 5K road race winding through the charming streets of Oak Bluffs, circling the harbor and East Chop, with sweeping views of Vineyard Sound. It’s more than just a race—it’s a celebration of community, history, and hope.
The day kicks off at 9:00 a.m. with a 1-mile Fun Run for kids 12 and under, starting from the Summercamp Hotel, just across from the Oak Bluffs harbor. At 9:30 a.m., the main event—the 5K Run/Walk—begins in scenic Ocean Park, in the heart of Oak Bluffs, guiding participants through a beautiful, USATF-certified course.
Prizes will be awarded after the race at Summercamp. Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female finishers, with medals presented to winners in various age categories.
This special event supports the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP, founded in 1963—the Island’s oldest civil rights organization. Proceeds go directly to the NAACP Scholarship Fund, awarded to Martha’s Vineyard high school seniors who embody the spirit of civil rights, leadership, and good citizenship.
🎁 Special Bonus for All 5K Entrants!
Thanks to the generosity of HOKA and The Green Room, everyone who registers for the 5K run/walk is automatically entered into a drawing to win one of six gift certificates for a pair of HOKA sneakers! Winners will be selected at random from registered bib numbers and prizes will be awarded as gift certificates redeemable at The Green Room in Vineyard Haven.
🎟 Register now to secure your spot (and your chance to win)!
Run with us. Give back. Make a difference.
Pick your distance
Running
5k Road Race
Bib pick up is at Summercamp Hotel on Friday, Sep 18th from 5.00 to 6.00 pm and on race morning from 8:00 to 9.00.
Kids Fun Run
This "race" for 12 years and under will be an out and back to the East Chop Beach Club. Strollers, and accompanying parents, are welcome.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 4 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Oak Bluffs, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:26 AM and sets at 6:45 PM local time (EDT) in Oak Bluffs on September 19, 2026 — 12h 18m of daylight.
Course
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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Other races near Oak Bluffs
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
OB Turkey Trot
Oak Bluffs Fall 5K
Martha’s Vineyard Brunch Run/Walk
Sheriff's Meadow Foundation Fourth Trail Run
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Oak Bluffs
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Oak Bluffs 5K Races 8 races
- Oak Bluffs Half Marathons 2 races
- Oak Bluffs Running Calendar 2026 10 races
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, 10 Oak Bluffs events
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