The OTR 5K run/walk, the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood’s oldest such event, will return October 2nd for the 14th year. The 5K, which is occurring in the fall season for the first time, is presented by the OTR Chamber, OTR YMCA, and Taste of Belgium.
Registration includes race timing, OTR 5K t-shirt, Taste of Belgium waffle, Deeper Roots coffee, a drink ticket for your choice of beer, seltzer, soda, or water and option for on-site bag drop. Top finishers will be awarded the highly coveted Rookwood Pottery medals. The cost of the race is $35 until September 26th and then $40 through race day, online registration will remain open through 8:45am, on Saturday October 2nd, with the race beginning at 9:00am. Register at otr5k.com. The event is still accepting volunteers, sign-up link can be found at otr5k.com.
The route, which winds throughout the OTR neighborhood and concludes with a post-party in Washington Park until 2:00pm. That event will feature live music, yard games courtesy of the Cincinnati Public Library and Play Library, and a “shop-small” vendor market. Multiple local food vendors will also be present and visitors and participants alike are encouraged to B.Y.O.B (“Bring Your Own Blanket”) to enjoy a fall afternoon picnic in the park.
New to the event this year is a partnership with MadTree and Responsible Products to take the first step towards “greening” the OTR 5K, with compostable water cups. Outdoors-for-all vendors will also be present in Washington Park for the event, including the Cincinnati Nature Center, Tri-State Trails and Adventure Crew.
The event is an annual fundraiser for the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, which has been in operation since 1985. In the past year, the OTR Chamber granted over $475,000 in small business relief grants, and was the creator of Cincinnati’s first official Small Business Week. The organization has also been instrumental in increasing the number of black and minority-owned businesses in OTR by more than 75% in the past three years and now has a grant partnership with Main Street Ventures, focusing on supporting minority business growth. Donations to the OTR Chamber are encouraged and can be done through this link.
WHEN:
OTR 5K Run/Walk: Saturday, October 2nd. 5K run/walk begins at 9:00am. Kids Race at 10:30am. Post-Party from 10:00am – 2:00pm.
Advance Packet Pick-Up: Available at the Central Parkway YMCA on Thursday, Sept. 30, from 3:00 – 7:30 pm and Friday, Oct. 1, from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm
Race-Day Packet Pickup: Available on site at Washington Park, 7:30 – 8:45 am.
WHERE:
Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration and all race details can be found at otr5k.com
Advance packet pick-up at the Central Parkway YMCA, 1105 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202.
WHO:
The OTR 5K is presented by the OTR Chamber, with presenting sponsors OTR YMCA and Taste of Belgium. Event “Impact Sponsors” are: 3CDC, Agar, Eagle Realty Group, the George & Margaret McClane Foundation, The Hubert Family Foundation, The Johnson Foundation, Model Group, P&G and Urban Sites. Event “Innovator Sponsors” are: Deloitte, Haile Foundation, and KeyBank. Event “Supporting Sponsors” are: Bartlett, City Studios, GBBN, Graydon, Key Bank, KMK Law, O’Rourke, Rookwood Pottery, Stough Group, Uptown Arts, US Bank
Entertainment Schedule:
9:30am – 10:30am Cincy Black Brass
11:00am – 12:00pm Aprina’s Revolutionary Love
12:30pm – 2:00pm DJ Rah D
