Cleveland Metroparks Halloween 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk presented by CrossCountry Mortgage

Cleveland Metroparks Halloween 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk presented by CrossCountry Mortgage starts at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 24, 2026. The 5K run and walk goes off at 8:30 a.m. and the one-mile walk follows at 9:00 a.m. Participants are invited to wear costumes as they make their way through the zoo grounds, and entry includes a custom shirt, a finisher medal, post-race refreshments and admission to the zoo.

With zoo entry included, plan to stay after you finish rather than heading for the car. If you intend to race the 5K, keep the costume light and simple, since bulky outfits trap heat and shorten your stride. Four to six weeks of consistent running with one weekly faster session covers the distance for most people, and a cold Cleveland morning is a good reason to warm up thoroughly before the gun.