Wild Strides 5K
About this race
Celebrate Earth Day with John Ball Zoo at the Wild Strides 5K & Kids Half Mile, an evening of movement, family fun, and wildlife!
The Wild Strides 5K starts at John Ball Zoo, winds through the scenic Kent Trail, and finishes inside the Zoo. Runners and walkers will experience a unique course surrounded by nature and the sights and sounds of the Zoo. All 5K participants receive an official race T-shirt, finisher medal, and a ticket to the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival.
Our Kids Half Mile is a fun, energetic race designed especially for young runners, with the entire course taking place inside John Ball Zoo! Kids will race through the Zoo for a one-of-a-kind experience before crossing the finish line and celebrating their accomplishment. All Kids Half Mile participants receive a race T-shirt and finisher medal.
But Wild Strides is more than just a race! The Race Day Village will be the place to kick off the celebration and stick around after the finish. Families can enjoy a variety of activities, including a bounce house, face painting, a DJ, food trucks and local booths, ambassador animals, and opportunities to learn more about the Zoo and the wildlife we work to protect. There will be plenty to see, do, and enjoy for the whole family.
Whether you're racing the 5K, cheering on a young runner, or simply joining us for the celebration, Wild Strides is a fun way to get moving, connect with your community, and kick off Earth Day at the Zoo.
Come run wild, celebrate Earth Day, and make an evening of it at John Ball Zoo!
📍 EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Tuesday, April 20, 2027
LOCATION: John Ball Zoo: 1300 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
SCHEDULE:
- Packet Pickup & Pre Race Festivities - 5:00 PM
- Kids Half Mile - 6:00 PM
- 5K Race - 7:00 PM
- 5K Fun Run/Walk - 7:10 PM
🅿️ PARKING: All participants should park in the John Ball Zoo parking lots
- Parking is free for all participants and spectators.
- When you arrive, you may need to take a ticket at the gate, but no payment or validation is required.
- Exit gates will open automatically on race night.
- Please follow directional signage and staff guidance
- We recommend arriving early to allow time for parking & check-in
Pick your distance
Running
5K Run
5K participants will receive a race t-shirt, finishers medal, and ticket to attend the 2027 Grand Rapids Lantern Festival.
5K Fun Run/Walk
5K participants will receive a race t-shirt, finishers medal, and ticket to attend the 2027 Grand Rapids Lantern Festival.
Wolverine Worldwide Kids Half Mile
Child participants will receive a race t-shirt and finishers medal. If needed, one adult is welcome to participate in the half mile to assist their child(ren).
Virtual Participation
Virtual 5K participants will receive a race t-shirt, finishers medal, and ticket to attend the 2027 Grand Rapids Lantern Festival. The items will be mailed to you upon your request - please contact wildstrides@jbzoo.org to coordinate.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 11 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Grand Rapids, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:52 AM and sets at 8:30 PM local time (EDT) in Grand Rapids on April 20, 2027 — 13h 38m 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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Results — Wild Strides 5K
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🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Grand Rapids
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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, 85 Grand Rapids events
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