Firecracker 5K/10K
- Date
- July 4, 2026
- Location
- 101 Mitchell St, Bryson City, NC
- Distance
- Firecracker 5k · Firecracker 10K
From the Organizer
Celebrate the 4th of July with the Firecracker 5K/10K at the Riverside Park in Bryson City, NC. The race is followed by the Freedom Festival. There's fun for the whole family with events all day, and fireworks at night. You can add whitewater rafting, a train ride, or waterfall hikes. Make a big holiday in a small town.
The Rotary Club of Bryson City hosts the 37th Annual 5K with a course that starts and finishes in the historic town of Bryson City, and meanders through Deep Creek Community, the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Register by June 10th to receive a commemorative race shirt. For registrations after this date, we ordered more shirts, but we cannot guarantee we will not run out or not have your size.
July 3rd, 3:00 - 7:00 pm Onsite Registration and Packet Pick Up at BC Outdoors,169 Main Street, Bryson City, NC
July 4th, 6:30 - 7:15 am Onsite Registration and Packet Pick Up at 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC
7:30 am The 10K Race Starts 8:00 am The 5K Race Starts
Age Groups & Awards
Awards to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female finishers.
Challenge Award presented to the fastest overall male and female 5K finisher who beats the all-time course record:
Male Record: 16:52 — Silas Harden
Female Record: 19:00 — Annie Batcheller
Awards to the Top 3 Male and Female finishers in each of the following Age Groups:
M/F 9 & Under | 10–14 | 15–19 | 20–24 | 25–29 | 30–34 | 35–39 | 40–44 | 45–49 | 50–54 | 55–59 | 60–64 | 65–69 | 70–74 | 75–79
Inspiration Award presented to the top Male and Female finisher age 80 & Over.
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
83°
Typical Low
63°
Based on US Climate Normals data from Bryson City 4, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Bryson City, NC
Population
1,676
as of 2023
Elevation
2,074 ft
Nearest Airport
TYS
McGhee Tyson Airport · 41 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A small town race. Lodging near the start could be limited, so book early.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Firecracker 5K/10K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
Coming Up
More Running races near Bryson City, NC
Braveheart 5K of NC
5K
17 miles away
80s Flashback 5K
5K
17 miles away
The Spooky 5K
5K
Less than a mile away
Cherokee 5K Turkey Strut
5K
Less than a mile away
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.
The 10K is the distance where running stops feeling like a starting point and starts feeling like a sport. Long enough to require a real training block. Short enough that race day is fully manageable for a first-timer who's put in the work.
Race day energy at a 10K is community at its best — strangers cheering you by name, people moving toward the same goal, an atmosphere that solo training can't replicate. It's fast enough that you'll spend the whole race pushing rather than managing your effort.
This is also the distance that builds the base for everything else. Most athletes who go on to run half marathons, do triathlons, or compete in HYROX started here. What you need: running shoes fitted to your stride, a training plan, and the race on your calendar. The registration is what makes the deadline real.
How long to train: 4–8 weeks for most fitness levels.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Firecracker 5K/10K?
- Firecracker 5K/10K is a running race held in Bryson City, North Carolina on July 4, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Firecracker 5K/10K?
- Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Bryson City, North Carolina at 101 Mitchell St, Bryson City, NC. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Firecracker 5K/10K?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Firecracker 5K/10K
Jul 4, 2026