Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department 5K Beer Costume Run

Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department 5K Beer Costume Run is held in Staplehurst, Nebraska, on October 31, 2026, in support of the town's volunteer fire department. The 5K, 3.1 miles, starts at 8:00 a.m. in front of the fire station, where the first beer is drunk before anyone runs a step; further stops along the course serve beer or sparkling water, and costumes are encouraged.

This is a novelty format rather than a time trial, and it should be run as one — the drinking, not the running, sets your pace. If you plan to take every stop, go out slower than you would in a normal 5K and give your stomach a moment at each one. Anyone who would rather skip the beer can take the sparkling water instead and treat the morning as an easy three miles in costume.