Veterans Day 5k
November 8, 2026 | Mills River Park | Mills River, NC
Join us for meaningful way to celebrate Veterans Day with the Veterans Day 5K, presented by Best Buy Metals, on Sunday, November 8, at Mills River Park. This event is more than a run—it’s a chance to come together as a community to honor our veterans and support the life-changing work of the Veterans Healing Farm.
The 5k starts at 10AM and the Fun Run Loop starts at 9:45AM. The 5K course follows the family-friendly greenway at Mills River Park, that welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. This is a flat course with surrounding mountain views.
If you’re not up to the 5K, we have an untimed, fun run option that is a ~1/2 mile flat loop. This option is good for kiddo’s or those looking for a shorter distance. The Fun Run Loop includes a finisher medal and a bib. Parents/Guardians are welcome to run or walk along side! There are no awards for the Fun Run Loop.
This race is a fundraiser for the Veterans Healing Farm, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans through agriculture, community, and hands-on healing experiences. Your participation helps provide a safe space where veterans can reconnect, rebuild, and thrive.
Race Information
About the Veterans Healing Farm
Established in 2013 by John and Nicole Mahshie, the Veterans Healing Farm celebrates its 11th year of helping our Veteran community. Today their focus is on improving Veteran mental health. Veteran Healing Farm’s mission is to enhance the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of our nation’s Veterans and their families.
The Veteran Healing Farm accomplishes this through the creation of a safe, peaceful environment that fosters healing and camaraderie. Our programs focus on brain health and includes agritherapy (organic farming, beekeeping, medicinal herbs) as well as a variety of other therapies / therapeutic activities, workshops, and live events. Everything grown at the Farm is donated back to our Veteran community.
The Veterans Day 5k is a fundraiser for the Veterans Healing Farm. Additional donations can be processed through the race registration process. Click here for more info about the Veterans Healing Farm!
Race Schedule
Sunday, November 8 at Mills River Park | 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River, NC
9-10AM Packet Pick Up at Mills River Park
9:45AM Fun Run Loop Start
10AM Veterans Day 5k Race Start
11AM Tentative 5k Awards
Included in 5k Registration
Race Shirt
Wooden Finisher Medal
Chip Timing
Donation to Veterans Healing Farm
Awards & Swag
Top Finishers
5k runners in the male & female category top awards are below:
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
1st Place Masters (40+)
1st Place Grand Masters (50+)
Race Shirt
Coming soon!
Finisher Medal
Coming soon!
Course Information
5k Course Map*
The 5k course is 2 loops of the same route. Runners will start on Town Center Drive and start their loop. The water station will be located at the race start/finish, around mile 1.5.
Strollers are welcome to join! We just ask that you start at the back of the pack.
*Course subject to change.
Fun Run Loop*
The Kids Loop is 1 loop on the greenway around the soccer fields which is approximately 1/2 of a mile. They will start at the same race start/finish arch as the 5k. Parents/Guardians are welcome to run/walk along side!
There are no awards for this untimed fun run. Kids Loop runners will receive a bib and a finisher medal.
*Course subject to change.
Thanks to our Sponsors
middle Sponsors
small Sponsors
The Veterans Day 5k, Veterans Healing Farm, and Kick It Event Management (Kick It Events) has a no refund policy. Our team works year round to produce our high quality events. Even if the event is canceled we have incurred expenses with planning of the event that are non-refundable. Please see the guidelines below.
The Race Roster Enhanced Refund Protection Program.
- Adding on the Race Roster Enhanced Refund Protection Program is a service provided outside of The Veterans Day 5k, Veterans Healing Farm, and Kick It Event Management.
- This purchase is subject to the Protecht Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before purchasing.
- The The Veterans Day 5k, Veterans Healing Farm, and Kick It Event Management DOES NOT promise a refund with the purchase of the Race Roster Enhanced Protection Program.
Refunds
- No refunds will be given if you signed up for this race by accident. Double check the city, date and time BEFORE registering.
- There are no refunds for injury or illness.
- There are no refunds for work or event conflicts.
- There will be NO REFUNDS if the event needs to be postponed.
- If the event needs to be canceled due to a global pandemic, national health emergency, state of emergency in the area or catastrophic event, there will be no refund.
- We do not allow deferrals.
Postponement
- In the event of inclement weather, race director will try to reschedule at the race directors discretion. There will be NO REFUNDS if the event needs to be postponed.
- Inclement weather determination is at the discretion of the race directors. We are looking for dangerous conditions for our runners and volunteers or an impassable race course.
- The postponement announcement will be made as early as we can. If there is surprise weather we reserve the right to postpone the race up until race morning. A postponement announcement will be by 5am race morning.
- If the event needs to be canceled due to a global pandemic, national health emergency, state of emergency in the area or catastrophic event, there will be no refund. We will do our best with a virtual event or socially distanced race. Please understand that we purchase your race items months ahead of time and we will get these items to you if the event is canceled last minute.
- Race postponement will be emailed out to runners using the email used during registration, posted on the race website (https://kickitevents.com/veteransday5k) as well as posted on our social media platforms.
- In the event the race is postponed and you would like your race swag mailed to you, you will be required to pay the shipping cost for your race bib and race swag.
- Race updates will be sent to the email address you registered with. Always make sure that your email is correct. In the event that the postponement date needs to be canceled, there will not be another postponement and there will not be any refunds.
Cancelation
- In the event the race needs to be canceled there will be no refunds.
- The cancellation announcement will be made as early as we can. If there is surprise weather we reserve the right to cancel the race up until race morning.
- We will always try to postpone the race if needed but sometimes permitting, weather etc does not allow for a postponement.
- If the event needs to be canceled due to a global pandemic, national health emergency, state of emergency in the area or catastrophic event, there will be no refund. We will do our best with a virtual event or socially distanced race. Please understand that we purchase your race items months ahead of time and we will get these items to you if the event is canceled last minute.
- Race cancellation will be emailed out to runners using the email used during registration, posted on the race website (https://kickitevents.com/veteransday5k) as well as posted on our social media platforms.
- Race updates will be sent to the email address you registered with. Always make sure that your email is correct.
Transfers
- You may transfer your registration to being a virtual runner up to 5 days before the event using the transfer button on the registration page.
- You may transfer your registration to another runner or to a different distance up to 5 days before the event using the transfer button on the registration page.
- After the 5 day cut off please reach out to Info@kickitevents.com for help with transferring.
