The Great Pumpkin 5K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Columbia, Louisiana
- Entry fee
- From $40
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Add to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Pumpkin 5K | 5K | Oct 10, 20268:00 AM | $40 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $40 until Oct 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in Louisiana, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Louisiana runs 36:12, about 11:39 a mile, based on 261 races with published results. Women typically finish in 40:59 and men in 31:08.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:07 AM, and the The Great Pumpkin 5K starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 80 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
501 Church Street, Columbia, LA 71418
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All resultsAggregated from official results for The Great Pumpkin 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at The Great Pumpkin 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:28 or better, the top quarter in 26:28, and half the field in 30:31; the last tenth came in after 38:24.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 28:36 | 22:21 |
| 20-29 | 30:14 | n/a |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Louisiana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:28, against 28:43 in a typical Louisiana 5K, so times here run 8 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 10 the day usually runs from 61°F at dawn to 84°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 3% of days. Cold snaps dip to 55°F and hot years reach 89°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 501 Church Street, Columbia, LA 71418Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 80 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Oct 11, 2025)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is The Great Pumpkin 5K?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $40 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Louisiana?
- At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in Louisiana, which costs $30 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 55 runners finished the The Great Pumpkin 5K; the median finish was 30:31 and the winner ran 18:56.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:28, against 28:43 in a typical Louisiana 5K, so times here run 8 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 501 Church Street, Columbia, LA 71418.
From the organizers
This run is hosted by Columbia Methodist Church in Columbia, Louisiana. It is held during October, when all of our pumpkins are out and about. This 5K goes through the historic downtown Columbia and all of the proceeds go towards the Columbia Methodist youth group and the Columbia Methodist food pantry, which feeds over 60 families a month.