Saturday, July 4, 2026
251 Park Avenue South
Winter Park, FL 32789
Date & Time
Jul 4, 2026
7:30 AM EDT
Location
251 Park Avenue South
Winter Park, FL 32789
Distances
5K, Free Kids' Run
Event Swag
- T-shirt
- Finisher medal
Entry Fees
In person and virtual. Processing fees will apply.
5K
$35 Through May 11
$40 May 12 - June 22
$45 June 23 - July 3
$50 Race Day
17 & under and 65 & over $10 OFF
Receive 15% off when you register 3 or more participants. Use code: friendsandfamily
Military Personnel & Dependents: see additional discount info below
About This Event
Kick off your Independence Day with a patriotic 5K! Celebrate with friends, family, and neighbors as you run, walk, and show your American pride—then cool off with refreshing ice-cold watermelon.
As the Title Sponsor, AdventHealth proudly supports this event in honor of our military veterans. With veterans serving in roles across the organization—from doctors and nurses to chaplains and senior executives—AdventHealth is committed to giving back to those who have served.

Event Highlights
$10 Discount & Special Bib for Military!
Team Challenge for $500 to Charity
Gender Specific Tank
Watermelon 5K Mini Towel
Ice Cold Watermelon
Watermelon Eating Contest
Military Staycation from Rosen Hotels & Resorts
Yard Games at the AdventHealth Tents
Virtual 5K Option
FREE Kids' Run
Event Schedule
Saturday, July 4, 2026
7:15 AM: Team Challenge Winner Announcement
7:30 AM: 5K (3.1 miles)
8:15 AM: Awards Presentation
8:30 AM: Military Staycation Winner Announced
8:40 AM: Watermelon Eating Contest
8:45 AM: FREE Kids' Run
Event Swag
T-shirt
Finisher medal
Beneficiary
Proceeds benefit the Track Shack Youth Foundation. The Track Shack Foundation promotes physical fitness to children and teens through a wide variety of community organizations.
Course
The beautiful 3.1 mile course starts on Park Ave. and runs through some of the best streets of Winter Park. This route is a USATF-certified course.
Military Appreciation Staycation from Rosen Hotels
Military participants can enter into a chance to WIN a 2 night stay at a Rosen Hotel! Staycation open to military personnel and family 18 and over. Enter at the Track Shack tent on race day.
Watermelon 5K Team Challenge
Create a team and show your support of our local military! The team with the most participants (minimum 15) will have a $500.00 donation made on their behalf to a local 501© (3) organization that supports military service. The group that has the most participants by July 3 is the winner.
Charitable examples may include i.e. active, reserve, veterans, wounded service personnel, military families or ROTC organizations. Results of the team competition and check presentation will be announced on race day at 7:15 AM.
What makes up a team? Any corporate or civic group can form a team.
Watermelon Eating Contest
Watch the fun or enter to compete! Two men & two women will be chosen to participate in eating delicious juicy watermelon. All interested participants may sign up while registering for the 5K.
Meet the Florida Watermelon Queen
Miss Reagan Hudson was crowned the 2025 Florida Watermelon Queen on October 26, 2024 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa in Fort Myers, Florida. Queen Reagan is the 23-year-old daughter of Rollin and Nina Hudson of Chiefland, Florida. .
In February 2026, she will represent her home state of Florida and compete for the title of National Watermelon Queen. For information regarding an appearance of the 2025 Florida Watermelon Queen, please send inquiries to Debra Harrison, Florida Watermelon Promotions Coordinator at debra@flfwa.com.
Running Responsibly in Winter Park
Track Shack is proud to produce six events in the City of Winter Park that reflect a shared commitment to sustainability and caring for the community we run and walk through. In support of the City’s sustainability goals, our races emphasize on-site composting, recycling and waste diversion, reduced single-use plastics, and digital-first communication to lessen environmental impact. Together with the City of Winter Park, we’re working to ensure our events support a healthy, sustainable future while preserving the character and charm that make Winter Park special.
Watermelon 5K Additional Info
Entry Fees
All entry fees and registrations are non-refundable.
Bib Swap
Do not swap your bib. Bib swaps are strictly prohibited. Individuals who are found swapping bibs will be removed from the results and/or will have their registration voided.
Transferring Your Registration to a New Participant
We allow transfers to new participants for a $15 transfer fee (plus processing fees).
How to Transfer:
- Log in to your participant account (or create one if you don’t have one).
- Click “YOUR REGISTRATIONS.”
- Select “VIEW REGISTRATION” for the event you want to transfer.
- At the bottom right-hand side, click “REGISTRATION OPTIONS.”
- Choose “TRANSFER.”
- Enter the name and email address of the person receiving your registration.
- Choose whether you want to pay the fee or pass the fee to the new participant.
Important: The transfer is not complete until the new participant accepts the registration.
Deadline: Transfers must be completed before bib pickup begins.
Bandits/Non-Registered Participants on Course
Individuals who participate in our events but who are not properly registered are strictly prohibited and will be ejected from the course. Please do not participate if you are not properly registered; you will disrupt the event for individuals who have taken the appropriate steps to register properly.
Pick up your bib and shirt at Track Shack (1104 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803). Photo ID or Check-In Pass is required for bib pickup. All participants will receive a virtual goodie bag via email with everything you need for a smooth race day, including: course map, athlete guide, special offers and race promotions.
Monday, June 30 - Friday, July 3
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Bib pickup also available at the race beginning at 6:00 AM.
Picking Up for Others/Group Pickup
Participants may pick up on behalf of others by presenting a copy of the participant's photo ID or Check-In Pass.
If you’re picking up for 3 or more participants, please bring a reusable bag.
If you are picking up for a group larger than 10, please contact us at info@trackshack.com 24 hours prior to pick up to speed up number pick up.
Pickup Up Bib Numbers After Race and Shirt Exchanges
We do not reserve runner amenities for individuals who do not pick up prior to the race. However, you may go to Track Shack to see if there are any leftover tees. In addition, if you would like to exchange a size you may go to the store to see if available and exchange accordingly. Availability and sizing not guaranteed.
We’re collecting non-perishable food items for the Orlando VA Medical Center’s VSO Food Pantry. Our goal is 1,000 food items! Please bring non-expired food to the Food Drive tent at the race.
Can’t make it to the race but still want to experience the excitement and achievement? Sign up to run the virtual race!
• Register online by June 30
Bib Pick-Up OR Shipping
Participants can pick up their packets at Track Shack (June 30-July 3). Shipping is available for those who wish to have the race packet mailed to their home. Packets will be shipped starting the week of June 30. Domestic shipping only.
Share Your Experience
Post your virtual race photo, tag Track Shack and use hashtag
#TrackShackVirtual and #Watermelon5k
- Instagram @orlandotrackshack
- Facebook @TrackShackRun
Athletes With Disabilities (AWD)
Track Shack is committed to creating welcoming and accessible events for Athletes With Disabilities whenever possible. If you are an AWD and would like to participate in a Track Shack event, please email info@trackshack.com so our team can discuss potential accommodations based on your individual needs.
While accommodations cannot be guaranteed, each request is reviewed thoughtfully on an event-by-event basis to determine what support may be available.
Wheelchair Athletes
Wheelchair participants are welcome to compete using either a push-rim wheelchair or a handcycle. All wheelchair athletes must wear a helmet.
- Push-rim wheelchair athletes are eligible for awards, presented to the top overall male, female, and nonbinary/genderqueer finishers.
- Handcycle athletes will compete in an exhibition category, are not eligible for awards, and must remain behind the lead cyclist for safety purposes.
Intellectual Impairments Division
Track Shack offers an Intellectual Impairments division for athletes with an intellectual impairment that may impact intellectual functioning and adaptive skills used in everyday life. Awards are presented to the top male and top female athletes, ages 14 and older, competing in the Intellectual Impairments division.
$10 OFF through July 3 No other discounts apply - Veterans, active duty and reservists from any branch of the U.S. Military and dependents with military ID.
Please email info@trackshack.com and state your branch to receive the military discount code. Military ID card required to pick up race bib.
Cannot be combined with other discounts
AdventHealth employees receive a $5 discount while supplies last. Coupon code is required for online registration. Code distributed by AdventHealth Contact: Bryan.Lupianez@AdventHealth.com
Be a part of your favorite Track Shack running events and cheer on the thousands of athletes as they race to the finish line. Make a difference in the Central Florida running community by signing up to be a Track Shack Volunteer! Track Shack Events staff provides race day instruction on these volunteer duties.
Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older.
Sign Up!
Email volunteer@trackshack.com
Baby carriers, backpacks, skates, scooters, bicycles, skateboards, and animals of any kind are prohibited. The use of headphones is discouraged.
Weather Safety
Races are held rain or shine. Track Shack Events (TSE) may delay, shorten, cancel, alter any event or course or delay the start time due to weather or for any other reasons within or not within the control of TSE.
In the event of extreme weather conditions, TSE, as advised by the Police and Fire/EMS Departments, reserves the right to cancel the race without advance notice. Should this be necessary, participants will receive event amenities. As event decisions are made, communication will be issued through the any of following methods: text, email, website and/or social media.
All entry fees are non-refundable, and may not be deferred toward a future event.
Event Alert System
A color-coded Event Alert System (EAS) will communicate the status of course conditions to participants leading up to and on race day. The levels range from Low (green) to Moderate (yellow) to High (red) to Extreme (black) based primarily on the weather, as well as other conditions.
All participants should familiarize themselves with the Event Alert System prior to the race, remain alert for directions from race officials and announcers and take precautions to prepare properly for varying weather conditions on race day.
Event Alert System table:
ALERT LEVEL
EVENT CONDITIONS
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
EXTREME
EVENT CANCELLED / EXTREME AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
PARTICIPATION STOPPED /FOLLOW EVENT OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION
HIGH
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
SLOW DOWN/ OBSERVE COURSE / FOLLOW EVENT OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION / CONSIDER STOPPING
MODERATE
LESS THAN IDEAL
SLOW DOWN / BE PREPARED FOR WORSENING CONDITIONS
LOW
GOOD CONDITIONS
ENJOY THE EVENT / BE ALERT
Course Cut Off Times
We are committed to providing access for runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes in our events. However, we must institute course time limits to adhere to municipal requirements. Participants must be able to maintain a 15 minute per mile pace. Participants who are unable to maintain that pace will be directed on to the sidewalk by race officials. Those who finish outside of the time limit may not be recorded as official finishers and may not receive full on-course support from Aid Stations and traffic personnel.
Stroller Policy
Safety for all participants is our first priority and we are happy to permit strollers for a fun family outing. With thousands of runners and walkers sharing the road, this event is not a place for speed with a stroller. The policy below will help keep our youngest and oldest participants safe and having fun.
- Stroller/jogger operators start behind designated stroller signage.
- Stroller/jogger operators may walk/jog no faster than 12 minute per mile, a safe operating speed. If your speed goes faster than 12 minutes per mile pace, you may be disqualified.
- Stroller/jogger operators must yield the right of way to runners. Stroller/Joggers can tip easily and cannot turn quickly. Please do not weave through packs of runners.
Strollers are strictly prohibited at the following races:
- OUC Orlando Half Marathon
- AdventHealth Corporate 5K
- U Can Finish 5 Mile
- Winter Park Road Race 10K
Pet Policy
Pets are not allowed on race courses.
Bandits/Non-Registered Participants on Course
Individuals who participate in our events but who are not properly registered are strictly prohibited and will be ejected from the course. Please do not participate if you are not properly registered; you will disrupt the event for individuals who have taken the appropriate steps to register properly.
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