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Run for the trees at Huntsville Botanical Garden
Celebrate Arbor Day with a chip-timed 5K or family-friendly 3K at Huntsville Botanical Garden. Low-key, scenic racing perfect for a spring weekend.
Event details
Huntsville Botanical Garden hosts its fifth annual Arbor Day 5K Race and 3K Sapling Run on Saturday, April 25, 2026, transforming one of North Alabama’s most celebrated green spaces into a chip-timed racecourse. The event falls on National Arbor Day and is presented by the Garden, an ArbNet-accredited arboretum with a serious commitment to tree science research, conservation, and public education about the role of woody plants in healthy ecosystems.
**The courses**
The timed 5K kicks off at 8:00 AM along paved and gravel roads winding through the Garden’s curated landscapes and the neighboring U.S. Space and Rocket Center grounds, with age group awards recognizing top finishers. At 8:15 AM, the family-friendly 3K Sapling Run follows, untimed and stroller-welcoming, designed for families with young children who want the spirit of race morning without the pressure of the clock. Prize drawings add a festive dimension to the shorter distance.
**Registration and pricing**
Total participation is capped at 1,200, with online registration closing April 23 through RunReg. The 5K is $30; the 3K is $25 for ages 11 and up, $15 for ages four through ten, and free for children three and under when accompanied by a registered adult. Note that pets, strollers, and headphones are not permitted on the 5K course.
**After the finish line**
The race is only the beginning of what April 25 can offer here. Linger among the Garden’s spring blooms at their seasonal peak, wander the Children’s Garden, and follow the nature trails connecting to the broader Aldridge Creek Greenway. It is an easy, unhurried way to extend a race morning into a full North Alabama day worth savoring.
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