Cotton Candy Classic 5K
Cotton Candy Classic 5K is a running race on September 12, 2026 in Knoxville, TN, with an entry fee of $30.
- Date
- September 12, 2026 (46 days to go)
- Price
- $30
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
Join us for the 8th Annual Cotton Candy Classic 5K in 2026! We invite you to run, walk, or skip through all of the sights and sounds the fair has to offer! The race begins at Patriot Circle inside Chilhowee Park and begins starting at 8am.
All proceeds go to supporting the Tennessee Valley Fair Foundation. The mission of the Tennessee Valley Fair Foundation is to preserve East Tennessee’s heritage by promoting agricultural awareness, supporting educational programs, and cultivating youth development through scholarships and youth activities.
Registration ends on September 12th , Race Morning at 7:45am. You can register on your smart phone device before checking in. Shirts are not guaranteed for week of registration after inventory runs out.
REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
- Cotton Candy Classic 5K shirt (if supplies available at time of registration)
- 2 FREE admission tickets to the 2026 TN Valley Fair
Packet pickup will take place at 6:30am on the day of the race. Parking is free in the Beaman Street parking lot. Participants will walk through the tunnel and registration is to the right at the top of the hill.
Course: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5682662878
Learn more about the Tennessee Valley Fair Foundation here: https://www.tnvalleyfair.org/p/getinvolved/foundation.
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
84°
Typical Low
60°
Chance of Rain
26%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Knoxville Exp Stn, 8 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Knoxville, TN
Population
193,721
as of 2023
City Elevation
1,007 ft
Nearest Airport
TYS
McGhee Tyson Airport · 11 mi
Time Zone
Eastern 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 Cotton Candy Classic 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
46
Days to train
- Race
- Cotton Candy Classic 5K
- Date
- September 12, 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
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Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Knoxville 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 KnoxvilleFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Cotton Candy Classic 5K
Sep 12, 2026