Registration Open for Fallin’ Blackbird Festival 5K in Downtown Beebe
Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to help kick off one of Beebe’s biggest community celebrations during the 2026 Fallin’ Blackbird Festival 5K.
The seventh annual race will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, October 17, in downtown Beebe.
The scenic 3.1-mile course will take participants through the downtown area before the remainder of the Fallin’ Blackbird Festival begins.
The race is open to competitive runners seeking a new personal record, recreational runners, walkers, families, groups and first-time participants.
Every participant who completes the race will receive a race shirt and finisher medal. Additional awards will be presented to the top overall finishers and winners in several age-group categories.
The race will be professionally timed by MacDonald Timing.
Early registration costs $40, while race-day registration will be available for $45. Participants registering on race morning are encouraged to arrive early so they can receive their packets before the race begins promptly at 7.
Registration is available through the official Fallin’ Blackbird 5K page.
Proceeds from the race will support Beebe Chamber of Commerce community events and scholarships for Beebe students.
After crossing the finish line, runners and walkers are encouraged to remain downtown for the Fallin’ Blackbird Festival. The festival will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and feature live music, food, local vendors, a car show and family activities.
The annual festival takes its name from the unusual event that placed Beebe in national headlines on New Year’s Eve in 2010, when thousands of red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky. A smaller occurrence was reported the following year.
The Beebe Chamber of Commerce now uses the distinctive piece of local history as the theme for an annual day of community activities and entertainment.
The 5K is scheduled as an all-weather event, and registration fees are nonrefundable. In the event of thunderstorms, the race could be delayed or converted into a virtual event.
Additional festival information is available from the Beebe Chamber of Commerce.