The 5th Annual Run-Up-To Juneteenth 5K Run/1 Mile Walk!
Get ready to celebrate AFRAM and run for a great cause! Break out the tube socks. Grab your crew. We’re taking it back to 1976 and bringing the community run home to Druid Hill Park.
Get ready, Baltimore! Held the weekend before the AFRAM Festival, the Run Up to Juneteenth (RUTJ) 5K/1-Mile is proud to serve as the official kick-off to AFRAM’s 50th Anniversary—a celebration of culture, history, unity, and joy in our city. This year, we’re moving the race to Druid Hill Park, returning to AFRAM’s original routes and honoring the legacy of the community runs that were part of the festival years ago. And because AFRAM began in 1976, we’re inviting you to throw it back—tube socks, headbands, short shorts, retro vibes and all! Want to go full disco-meets-track-star? We’re here for it. Prefer your usual race-day gear? Perfect. We’ll be awarding a prize for Best 1976 Throwback Outfit, so have fun with it! Most importantly, come ready to move and support SEED students on their journey to college. Let’s make this golden anniversary unforgettable. Proceeds from the Run Up to Juneteenth benefit The SEED School of Maryland's College Transition & Success Program; learn more at seedschoolmd.org.
Events
5K Run
1-Mile Walk
Virtual 5K Run
Virtual 1-Mile Walk
Run-Up-To Juneteenth 5K Run/1 Mile Walk Promo
The Run Up To Juneteenth 5K is a rain or shine event, but if inclement weather (including significant rainfall, lightning/thunder, or high winds) creates unsafe conditions for our participants, the race/walk will go virtual. Your registration fee will be treated as a donation if we go virtual and you choose not to participate in the virtual race/walk.
Packet Pickup
Friday, June 12th from 4-7PM
Charm City Run Fells Point
1500 Thames Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
Packet Pick-up on Race Day: Sunday, June 14th, 7:00 – 8:15 am (onsite)
Awards
Awards will be given to the following:
Top three male and female overall
Top male and female in the following age groups: 6 and under, 7-11,12-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+
Amenities For All Runners And Walkers
- Free Parking
- Chip Timing
- Official 2026 Run Up To Juneteenth t-shirt
- Post race water/banana
- Race Village with a Baltimore festival vibe: beautiful setting, Sunset Raw Juice truck, DJ, fun for kids and more!
Juneteenth Significance
A combination of the words “June” and “19th” — Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
Baltimore City proudly celebrates Juneteenth each year with a weeklong series of special events, starting with the Run Up To Juneteenth and culminating with AFRAM, one of the East Coast's largest African American festivals (aframbaltimore.com).
Sponsorship Opportunities
There are many opportunities and advantages to sponsoring The SEED School of MD's Run Up To Juneteenth 5K Run/1 Mile Fun Walk. To learn more about the event and sponsorship click the PDF below or contact:
Katie del Carmen Byram
Director of Development
kbyram@seedschoolmd.org
Virtual Race Information
We will be offering a virtual race option for those who would like to participate but are not local, or do not feel comfortable attending an in-person race at this time. Here's how the virtual race works:
1. Register for one of the virtual event and sign up for text or e-mail notifications.
2. Your race swag will be available for pickup at our pre-race packet pickups, or will be mailed to you after the race ($5 fee for mailing per person).
3. You'll receive a text or email (if you opt in) when the virtual race "starts" on June 13th.
4. Run your race and submit your results either by text message or email (if you've opted in) or by heading to the results page here by June 14th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Results update in real time as people submit their times. Be sure to take a selfie/photos and share on social media.
5. Sit back and enjoy your accomplishment!
Virtual race performances are not eligible for the overall event awards, but we'll certainly be acknowledging the winners in our post-race communication.
Beneficiary
Proceeds benefit The SEED School of Maryland College Transition and Success program.
MISSION
The SEED School of Maryland is the only tuition-free, public boarding school in the state and provides an exemplary education and living experience; We equip students with the academic, critical thinking, and social skills necessary to succeed in high school and graduate from college.
VISION
Our students live and learn on campus tuition-free and graduate prepared for success in college and beyond.
SEED MODEL
Our 24-hour learning environment serves the academic, social-emotional, and physical needs of each student.
Contact Form
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Event Location
Druid Hill Park
900 Druid Park Lake Drive
Baltimore, MD 21217 US
View Location on Map
