Matthews Kiwanis Labor Day 5K

The 34th Annual Kiwanis Labor Day 5K will be held on Labor Day, September 7, 2026 at the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Sportsplex. With plenty of safe parking near the course route, accessibility is assured. 

The 5K course itself is different from the traditional route in the middle of the Matthews Alive Festival, with no major streets to negotiate. It is an out-and-back course, featuring paved pathways around and between the Sportsplex stadium and soccer fields. It is a certified course.

The 5K race will start at 7:30am at the West pavilion off of the stadium. See the map that is a part of this website, which notes not only the route but also parking areas.

High quality race shirts and bib numbers will be available on race day at the registration tables. T-shirts are only guaranteed for participants registered before midnight August 14th.

After that cutoff time, race shirt distribution will be on a first come, first served basis. Registration fee for the “Fun Run” does not include a race shirt.

There will be no packet pickup prior to race day.

The Pre-registration price of $35 will be good online until midnight Saturday August 30.

After that cutoff time, race registration will be $45, online at the registration tables. 

In advance, the Kiwanis Club of Matthews thanks you for your participation in this annual event which helps support various club projects for the care of children in our community. For more information on the kinds of activities that the Kiwanis Club of Matthews supports, please visit: www.matthewskiwanis.org.

The 5k will be held, rain or shine, unless the race directors determine that conditions are too dangerous. If the race is canceled due to inclement weather there will be neither refunds nor transfers, as the signup waiver notes. 

There is convenient parking and clean public bathrooms near the course start.