The Best Kid-Friendly 5K Races Near Ann Arbor This Year

Are you looking for kid-friendly races near me? Good news! There are plenty of Family Friendly races in Ann Arbor throughout the year.

Find a 5K in Ann Arbor. Check out a Fun Run. And the whole family will be crossing the finish line!

Kid Friendly Race Tips

If you are running with your kids, we have a few tips:

Register early! Most races offer discounted registration the earlier you register.
Make sure the race is stroller friendly if you plan to run with your child in a stroller.
Be sure to dress for the weather.
Prepare for the race as a family. Go out for family runs or walks, or just have the kids run.
Plan to alternate running and walking on the course as needed. On the course set goals to run to a certain landmark.
If your child is running on their own, have a plan to reconnect after the race.

Check out our list of races below to find events that include kids races near me.

At an Ann Arbor 5k - 2 mile Progress sign. Family Friendly races

3rd Annual Clonlara Art Market

Saturday, April 11

Open House - Enrolling Kids 6 weeks-2.5 years | Lower School | 2664 Miller Rd April 11 9:30-11a Green Apple Garden Playschool

Green Apple Garden Lower School Open House

Saturday, April 11

Green Apple Garden Upper School Open House

April 18

Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor - a girl sits at a sewing machine working the fabric through the machine.

Open House Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor

Saturday, April 18

Kid-Friendly Races Near Me: 2026 Edition

Races are held in Ann Arbor for most of the year except the middle of winter. Races usually run through early December with Thanksgiving and holiday races. Then, mostly take a break in January and February before returning in March.

This list will be updated throughout the year. If you know of an event that is missing, please leave it in the comments or submit it to our calendar.

Schedule of Ann Arbor Races

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer. After we add them, events can be cancelled, details can changed, or we can make mistakes.

January-February Races

👟 A Very Nice Run
Washtenaw Dairy – 602 S. Ashley St Ann Arbor
Date: January 1, 2026 9:00am-11:00am

👟 Couple Shuffle
Island Lake Recreation Area – 6301 Kensington Rd Brighton
Date: January 31, 2026 9:00am-12:00pm

March Races

👟 Time to Paddy 5k/10k & Lucky 13.1
Kensington Metropark – 4570 Huron River Parkway Milford
Date: March 7, 2026 8:00am-11:00am

👟 Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K & Kids K
Connor O’Neills – 318 S. Main St Ann Arbor
Date: March 8, 2026 9:30am-12:00pm

👟 Epic Pi Run
Rolling Hills County Park – 7660 Stony Creek Rd Ypsilanti
Date: March 14, 2026 10:00am

👟 Run for The Gold
Main Street Pinckney – Main Street PInckney
Date: March 14, 2026 10:00am-11:45am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: March 28, 2026 9:00am-10:30am

April Races

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: April 4, 2026 9:00am-10:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: April 11, 2026 9:00am-10:30am

👟 Big House 5K
Michigan Stadium – 1201 S Main St Ann Arbor
Date: April 12, 2026 8:00am-10:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: April 18, 2026 9:00am-10:30am

👟 Twinkie Run
Gallup Park – 3000 Fuller Rd Ann Arbor
Date: April 19, 2026 7:45am-11:00am

👟 Donot Stop Half Marathon - Ann Arbor
Island Lake Recreation Area – 6301 Kensington Rd Brighton
Date: April 19, 2026 8:00am-11:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: April 25, 2026 9:00am-10:30am

May Races

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: May 2, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: May 9, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Mother's Day 5K and Fun Run
Rolling Hills County Park – 7660 Stony Creek Rd Ypsilanti
Date: May 10, 2026 8:00am-10:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: May 16, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Hometown Half Marathon/10K/5K
Kensington Metropark – 4570 Huron River Parkway Milford
Date: May 23, 2026 7:00am-10:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: May 23, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Sprout Love - Summer 5K
Dexter High School – 2200 N. Parker Rd Dexter
Date: May 24, 2026 8:30am-11:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: May 30, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Color Fun Run
Lincoln Middle School – 8744 Whittaker Rd Ypsilanti
Date: May 30, 2026 9:00am-12:00pm

👟 Dexter-Ann Arbor Kids Run
Ferry Field – 1150 S State St Ann Arbor
Date: May 30, 2026 9:45am-11:00am

👟 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run
Main Street & Kingsley – 100 E. Kingsley St Ann Arbor
Date: May 31, 2026 7:15am-11:00am

Start Line at Girls on the Run Superhero Ann Arbor 5k - Start Line - Kids Race start

June Races

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: June 6, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: June 13, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Liberty Run
Heritage Park – 1150 S Canton Center Canton
Date: June 20, 2026 8:00am-11:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: June 20, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: June 27, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

July Races

👟 Firecracker 5K & Fun Run
Main Street Area – Main Street and Liberty Ann Arbor
Date: July 4, 2026 8:00am-11:00am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: July 4, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: July 11, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: July 18, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: July 25, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

Last year’s July races (We have not yet updated these races for 2026)

👟 July 5, 2025 All American 4 & 8 Mile - Ann Arbor at South Lyon High School
👟 July 15, 2025 Dart for Art at Ingalls Mall

August Races

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: August 1, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: August 8, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: August 15, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: August 22, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: August 29, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

Last year’s August races (We have not yet updated these races for 2026)

👟 August 9, 2025 Saline Summerfest 5K at Henne Field
👟 August 23, 2025 Summer Sizzler - Ann Arbor at Kensington Metropark

September Races

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: September 5, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: September 12, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: September 19, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 Lillie parkrun
Lillie Park – 4365 Platt Road Ann Arbor
Date: September 26, 2026 8:00am-9:30am

👟 RunTough Family Fun Day
Saline High School – 1300 Campus Parkway Saline
Date: September 27, 2026 2:30pm-4:00pm

Last year’s September races (We have not yet updated these races for 2026)

👟 September 14, 2025 Ele's Place Ann Arbor Healing Hearts Family 5K Walk/Run at Thomson Reuters Office Complex
👟 September 28, 2025 Walk a Mile in My Shoes. at Burns Park School

October Races

👟 Ann Arbor Marathon Kids Races & Packet Pickup
2|42 Community Church – 648 S Wagner Rd Ann Arbor
Date: October 3, 2026 11:00am

👟 Ann Arbor Marathon
Main Street Area – Main Street and Liberty Ann Arbor
Date: October 4, 2026 8:00am-2:00pm

👟 Michigan Monster Dash
Kensington Metropark – 4570 Huron River Parkway Milford
Date: October 24, 2026 9:00am-2:00pm

Last year’s October races (We have not yet updated these races for 2026)

👟 October 4, 2025 Railsprinter Donut Dash 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run at Lincoln Athletic Building
👟 October 11, 2025 Spooky Sprint at Kensington Metropark
👟 October 11, 2025 Run Scream Run at Wiard’s Orchard
👟 October 12, 2025 Dicken Run at Dicken Elementary

November Races

👟 Donut Dash
Skyline High School – 2552 N. Maple Ann Arbor
Date: November 1, 2026 9:00am-11:00am

👟 Bonfyre Trail Fest
DTE Energy Foundation Trail – 17819 Stockbridge Chelsea Rd Chelsea
Date: November 7, 2026 10:00am-3:00pm

👟 A2 Turkey Trot
Hudson Mills Metropark – 8801 N. Territorial Rd Dexter
Date: November 8, 2026 7:45am-11:00am

👟 Leftovers Run
Hudson Mills Metropark – 8801 N. Territorial Rd Dexter
Date: November 29, 2026 9:30am

Last year’s November races (We have not yet updated these races for 2026)

👟 November 22, 2025 Turkey Trails - Ann Arbor at Kensington Metropark
👟 November 27, 2025 Ann Arbor Turkey Trot - Thanksgiving Day at Main Street Area