Northern Lights 5K Fun Run

About the Event

BIG NEWS FROM TJCC!

Welcome to the Northern Lights 5K Fun Run at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center!

The Northern Lights 5K Fun Run has a new home!

Hosted by the Thomas Judd Care Center, this year’s event is moving to the Grand Traverse County Civic Center, bringing a bright new energy and a course designed for everyone.

We’re introducing a triple loop course! A flat, easy-to-follow route that’s perfect for runners, walkers, families, and all ages. Whether you’re moving fast or taking it at your own pace, you’ll circle the course three times, enjoying the lights and community along the way.

Three loops = more glow, more fun, and more chances to cheer each other on!

Same welcoming, feel-good event - just in a new location that makes it even easier to participate and celebrate together.

Get Ready to Glow!

Thomas Judd Care Center’s 9th Annual Northern Lights 5K Fun Run
Friday, September 11 | 8:00 PM
Start & Finish: Grand Traverse County Civic Center/ Pavilion Parking Lot

Lace up your sneakers and light up the night! Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Northern Lights 5K Fun Run, hosted by the Thomas Judd Care Center to raise awareness for HIV care and prevention resources across Northern Michigan.

Whether you're running or walking, this 5K course offers glowing fun, community spirit, and a chance to make a difference!

Registration Includes:

Neon event tee (limited to early registrants—don’t wait!)
Timed event
Post-race snacks
Finisher medals

Cash Prizes!

Top Overall Male & Female Finisher: $300
Male & Female Division:

1st Place: $150
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50

We're turning up the excitement this year with new cash prize drawings:

Northern Lights Finisher Drawing - All race finishers (run, walk, crawl) will be entered to win one of three $50 cash prizes!
Northern Lights Spirit Drawing - Show off your glow! Embrace the theme and light up the night with your best neon, LED, or glow-in-the-dark gear. All creatively lit-up and enthusiastically dressed racers will be entered to win $100 cash prize!

Come prepared with extra clothes and time to cheer on other runners as they cross the finish line. Celebrate wellness and support for others! You must be present to win drawings at the completion of the race!

Important Dates:

Registration Opens: Friday, May 1 at 8:00 AM
Registration Closes: Sunday, September 6 at 11:59 PM
There is no race-day registration—don’t miss your chance!
Packet Pickup: Wednesday, September 9, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
5041 N. Royal Drive, Suite 1, Traverse City
Late Packet Pickup: Friday, September 11, 7:00 PM -7:30 PM at Grand Traverse County Civic Center Pavillion

Course map coming soon!

❤️ Why We Run

The Thomas Judd Care Center works to promote wellness and prevent HIV transmission by providing holistic, compassionate care for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS in Northern Michigan. Your participation helps support life-changing services in our community.

Ready to shine? Register early to guarantee your race tee and join us for a glowing good time!

Races Offered

5K Run/ Walk

Sep 11, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

20:00

sell

$20.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Traverse City.

thermostat Temperature

13.9° / 22.5°

wb_sunny Feels like

12.3° / 21.5°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

10h 17m

water_drop Avg rainfall

1.4 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

11.2 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Moderate

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (5.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

75.2%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:21

nightlight Sunset

19:51

About Traverse City

Learn more about the host city, Traverse City.

Traverse City is a scenic city on the Grand Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. Directly north of Traverse City, the Old Mission Peninsula splits the Grand Traverse Bay in two, with a beautiful windswept landscape and great views of the bay on either side. Slightly to the west, the Leelanau Peninsula, with its charming small towns, forms the "pinkie finger" of the Michigan peninsula, jutting into Lake Michigan. Both peninsulas are prime winemaking regions within the state, and as such are one of the main tourist attractions in the region. Over a million visitors come each year to tour the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a scenic lakeside park with impressively large sand dunes. It's also a very popular destination for outdoor activities, owing to the proximity of Lake Michigan in summer, the impressive autumn colors, and the high snowfalls in winter.