June 14, 2025

Juneteenth Fun Run

5K and Half Mile Fun Run

The Loppet Foundation :: Events :: Juneteenth Fun Run

A fun run for Junteeenth

Join us for the annual Juneteenth Fun Run on Saturday, June 14, 2025! All are welcome to participate in the 5K or half mile run.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth recognizes that it took two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation for all enslaved people to be freed. Celebrating Juneteenth allows us to recognize history, and build for the future. Juneteenth celebrates freedom, and together we hope to claim a better tomorrow. In partnership with community and community organizations, the Loppet brings you the Annual Juneteenth Fun Run.

Start the Juneteenth celebration off on Friday, June 13 at The Trailhead with the Jubilee in Celebration of Juneteenth: The Annual Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Showcase and live music.

About Honoree Beverly Propes

We honored Beverly Propes for the 2024 Juneteenth 5k and Fun Run! Beverly is a pillar of the North Minneapolis community and respected elder. Beverly has been a longtime advocate for overcoming health disparity in North Minneapolis and using her connections to help the community live longer, healthier lives.

2025 honoree coming soon!

Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Showcase

Learn More: Sweet Potato Comfort Pie

Celebrate Juneteenth with us at the Annual Sweet Potato Pie Showcase and
family-friendly Happy Hour! A celebration of food culture and stories. This will be
Sweet Potato Comfort Pie’s fourth annual celebration of the Juneteenth Jubilee
through the Sweet Potato Pie.

We are delighted to welcome all pie bakers who make either traditional or
non-traditional sweet potato pie. This is not a competition but a showcase for telling
your’ pie story’. Participants share the cultural and personal histories behind their
individual recipes.

Shayla Reaves will join us as the host to guide us through the stories of each pie
baker while the “celebrity pie tasters” taste the bakers’ pies. The audience will be able
to engage directly with the bakers and even taste our sweet potato comfort pie.
Kick off your Juneteenth celebration with a community Happy Hour on Friday
evening, where you can share your cultural diversity and personal traditions while
enjoying some pie. This family-friendly event is open to all. A kids station with arts
and crafts project will be available.

Beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be available for purchase at the Mill
Valley Market.

2024 information: If you would like to “enter” your pie for tasting and to share your ‘pie-story’ click here to complete the entry form.

Register for 5K and Fun Run

We want everyone to participate! Registration is a sliding scale from free to suggested donations to help cover costs and support the celebration of Juneteenth!

	Price
5K Run	FREE
Half Mile	FREE

Proceeds from the Juneteenth Fun Run benefit the Loppet Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation's mission, vision, and values.

Registration and transaction fees are non-refundable, including in the event of delay, rescheduling, or cancellation of an event or program. An event or program registration is not transferable to another person or another event for any reason, including injury. Participating under another person's name will result in disqualification.

A Note About the Data We Collect

Schedule

FRIDAY

4-6pm: 5th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Showcase (in The Trailhead)

6-7:30pm: Music!

SATURDAY

7:30am-9:00am Registration and Packet Pickup (at the Trailhead)

8:50am Honoring 2025 honoree (before races start)

9:00am Half Mile Fun Run

9:15am 5K (starts after the Half Mile finishes)

11:00am Continue the party at the UROC Juneteenth Celebration (2001 Plymouth Ave N)

Logistics

Course and Timing

Paved paths of beautiful Wirth Park! Both race courses will be stroller friendly and on flat, paved paths! Check out the course below – both the 5K Fun Run and Kids Half Mile will start and finish at The Trailhead. Here is a link to a Google map version of the course as well.

The Juneteenth events are untimed. However, we will have a clock running for those that want to chase a goal time! Or establish a base time if this is your first 5K!

Parking

This event will take place at The Trailhead (1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55422) and participants can park in The Trailhead lots, walk, take the bus or bike. Overflow parking is at Mortenson Construction (700 Meadow Ln N, Golden Valley, MN 55422) if needed.

Note: The route 7 bus that usually drops off and picks up at The Trailhead building will be dropping off at Plymouth & Xerxes so not to interfere with the run course.

Additional Fun

Free Shirt (for the first 225 people to pick up their packet)! Keep your bib number as a memento!
Post-race snack and beverages!
Music

Juneteenth Shirt (2024 shown below, 2025 design coming soon!)

About the Shirt Artist: Ashley Koudou is a multidimensional designer. Her work as an illustrator puts black women at the center and takes a peek into their everyday lives, dreams and fantasies. This work has given her the opportunity to collaborate with other small black women owned businesses. She draws inspiration from her culture as an Ivorian in America as well as her own experiences and the experiences of the black women around her. Ashley has been described as a multipotentialite because her interest in all things creative is vast and ever-expanding. Her artistic background began with drawing and painting, but it has expanded to many mediums, from animation to ceramics. Ashley is the founder of Mango Arts Minneapolis. A creative organization dedicated towards expanding the creative economy for artists and helping small businesses build their brand. She believes in the richness diverse cultures and identities bring to Minneapolis and is a part of her mission to serve those communities. See more of Ashley’s work.

Volunteer

Volunteers are a vital part of an Loppet event! Please sign up to volunteer by clicking the button below. If you have any questions, please email volunteer@loppet.org.