Sat, Aug 15, 2026

Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k

Russellville, AL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K1 Mile

Entry is $20 now and rises to $25 after Aug 2, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k

The course starts and finishes at opposite ends of a high school football stadium, which gives the finish line a bit of a tucked-in, arena feel. The surroundings are classic small-town Alabama, and the race benefits the local high school cross country program. Aid stations are out on course as well as at the start and finish area, stocked with water, snacks, and electrolytes.

Packet pickup happens race morning at Russellville High School, starting well before the gun goes off, with race-day registration also available up until shortly before the start. Free parking is right near the start and finish. Leashed dogs and strollers are welcome, both asked to line up at the back. Watermelon is waiting at the finish line.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

117finishers

17:48winner

28:28median

1:01:22cutoff

Top 3: Jessie Mitchell (17:48) · ANGEL GARCIA (19:20) · MICAH CLOTFELTER (19:36)

The Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K8/15/2026 07:30$25

1 Mile8/15/2026 08:30$20

5K8/15/2026 07:30$35

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k

Will I finish last at the Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 28:28, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:01:22, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k a good first 5K?

It is a small race (117 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Franklin County Watermelon Festival 5k?

The 5K winner ran 17:48 while the median finisher took 28:28. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.