Smoky Mountain Very Scary 5K
Smoky Mountain Very Scary 5K is a running race on October 30, 2026 in Townsend, TN, with an entry fee of $50.
- Date
- October 30, 2026 (63 days to go)
- Location
- 7765 River Road, Townsend, TN
- Price
- $50
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
Dare to run, walk, or zombie crawl through the spookiest 5K in the Smokies! The Very Scary 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run starts and ends at The Abbey in Townsend, TN, featuring the scariest swag in the history of Very Scary 5Ks—including a "very scary" finisher medal, spine-chilling t-shirt, exclusive decal, and more surprises!
This fully supported nighttime race guarantees a thrilling experience—you might even (OK, you almost certainly will) encounter a terrifying sight along the way!
AWARDS & TIMING
Unique awards will be given for the 5K in the following categories (male & female):
🏆 Open: Fastest finish (any age)
🏆 Masters: Fastest finish (age 40+)
🏆 Grandmasters: Fastest finish (age 50+)
🏆 Veterans: Fastest finish (age 60+)
The 5K is chip timed, but per USATF regulations, awards will be based on gun time. The awards ceremony will begin promptly at 9:00 PM. The 1 mile fun run is untimed, but don't worry—you're getting all the same sweet swag as the 5K. Awards must be picked up on race day—no shipping. Again, we won't be shipping any swag or awards, and we can't hold it for late pickup, so get your goodies before the race!
REGISTER EARLY!
Shirts will be printed one week before race day. Register early to guarantee your size—late sign-ups are not guaranteed a shirt! No shirts will be held or mailed to participants.
RULES & REGULATIONS
For safety and insurance reasons, pets, strollers, wagons, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, mopeds, or hoverboards are not allowed on the course.
👻 Costumes Encouraged!
Kick off the fun with our costume contest at 7:00 PM, one hour before race start. Top costumes will win awards, so dress to impress (or terrify)!
Sign up now—if you dare! 😱🎃👟
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
64°
Typical Low
38°
Chance of Rain
35%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Townsend 5s, 5 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Townsend, TN
City Elevation
1,088 ft
Nearest Airport
TYS
McGhee Tyson Airport · 16 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Smoky Mountain Very Scary 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
63
Days to train
- Race
- Smoky Mountain Very Scary 5K
- Date
- October 30, 2026
- Location
- 7765 River Road, Townsend, TN
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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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Smoky Mountain Very Scary 5K
Oct 30, 2026