Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk
Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk is a running race on December 2, 2026 in Evansville, IN, with entry fees from $5 to $25.
- Date
- December 2, 2026 (132 days to go)
- Price
- $5–$25
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
Join us for Bright Lights 5K & 1-Mile Walk for Easterseals! This is the only night when Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights will be closed to vehicle and carriage traffic and open only for runners, walkers, and people using mobility equipment!
There will be no carriage rides on this night.
NO dogs are allowed at the event (except for service dogs).
If you participate in the 5K, you can enjoy the 1-Mile walk at no additional cost!
Parking
- Please park in the lot next to Bosse Field or the overflow area across the street on Heidelbach Ave.
- No parking is allowed inside Garvin Park.
Course
- The 5K (2.88 miles) consists of three loops around Garvin Park.
- Start: Just off Morgan Ave inside Garvin Park, run/walk at the corner of Main Street and Morgan Avenue, go toward the 7 lighted trees, turn right, and follow the light show route.
- The course loops around the back of the park, passing all lighted attractions.
- A water stop is located near the end of loop one.
- Continue past the fountain area to begin lap two and repeat until you have passed the fountain three times.
- Finish: After the third lap, take a sharp right at the 7 lighted trees and head back to the Main Street and Morgan Avenue starting point. Medals will be given to the first 400 finishers.
-
Walkers participating in the 5K: Please keep a pace to complete the race within an hour. Please allow runners to pass you.
Awards
- Overall Male and Female winners will be awarded.
Awards will also be given to the top two males and females in each of the following age groups:- 1-9
- 10-14
- 15-19
- 20-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60-69
- 70-79
- 80+
Packet Pickup at Ultimate Fit on December 2nd
-
- To reduce traffic on race night, please pick up your bib and shirt at Ultimate Fit (1412 S. Green River Road, Evansville) on Tuesday, December 2, from 3:30-6:30 PM.
- You may pick up packets for others as well.
- If you cannot make it to Ultimate Fit, pickup will be available at Garvin Park on event night, Wednesday, December 3, from 3:30-5:30 PM at the Run/Walk tent near the starting line.
NEW for 2025!
FINISHER MEDALS FOR THE FIRST 400 to cross the finish line!
We know everyone wants one and we want you to have one too!
Please come back for MORE exciting updates to be posted for our 10th year! We are still working on the best year yet!
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
51°
Typical Low
36°
Chance of Rain
29%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Evansville Museum, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Evansville, IN
Population
116,441
as of 2023
City Elevation
386 ft
Nearest Airport
EVV
Evansville Regional Airport · 3 mi
Major Hub
SDF
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport · 100 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
132
Days to train
- Race
- Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk
- Date
- December 2, 2026
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More Running races near Evansville, IN
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Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Evansville than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to EvansvilleFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk
Dec 2, 2026