Sunshine Festival July 4th 5k & 1 mile

Welcome to the 40th Annual Sunshine Festival July 4th Race!

We are so excited to see you this year! It's going to be EPIC! 
New in 2024! Finisher medals for all 5k finishers (with a bib on) (1-mile finishers also)
New in 2024! Digital race photos from Sports in Motion.

Website
There are many local social media and web "local event" calendars for the Golden Isles, they are not always up to date for our event in spite of our efforts. 

This is our Race Website: Sunshine Festival July 4th 5k & 1 mile

This is our Race Facebook group page: CLICK HERE

IMPORTANT NOTES
Registrations before 6/24 will have their first name printed on the front of the bib and have already been assigned a bib number. Registrations after 6/24 will have a space to write their names and will have bib numbers assigned at packet pickup. 
Starting Line is self-seeded by average expected pace per mile
Strollers ARE ALLOWED, be careful and respectful especially of our Adaptive Athletes. 
Dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED; this is due to insurance liability and safety issues. 
PRE-RACE DAY Walk-up registration on July 3rd is available.  

NO RACE DAY registrations on July 4th
RACE DAY Packet up is available on July 4th
PACKETS unclaimed by 8 am on Race Day are forfeited. 

AWARDS cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change. 
SHIRTS: Shirts were ordered on 6/14, we tried to anticipate what the total numbers would be and ordered 1600 shirts. There are 1327 registered as of now.  RunSignUp has an inventory, when it says "Out of Stock" for a size offering, that is what it means. We hope everyone gets a shirt, but we cannot afford to have extra shirts. Thanks for all who registered before 6/14!
No shirt exchanges
Pre-Race Day Packet Pickup
Wednesday, July 3rd, 4-7 pm at St. Simons Presbyterian Church social hall, 
205 Kings Way. From Kings Way, turn onto Delegal St and park behind the church. 

Your friends or family can pick up your packet but may have to get in multiple lines.

Bib lines are sorted by Last Name. 
After picking up your bib, you will proceed to a different line to pick up your shirt. 

PRE-RACE DAY Walk-up registration is available, but doubtful there will be any shirts left.   

Expo Vendors:
 Herndon Farms - Vidalia Onions for sell
Ultra Water Solutions - Purified water and signup for free water testing
Grateful Cats/Canines Allies & Supporters - Shirts for sale
Game Changers Running Company - Shoes, hats, sunglasses and running accessories for sale
Vystar Credit Union -  Information
Golden Isles Wellness - Information, Packages
Au Pair America - Information and free hand sanitizers
Stretch Zone - Free stretch sessions
Golden Isles Track Club- Club shirts & hats for sale, and pickup for online orders
SWAG table for free giveaways from other sponsors

Race Day 
NO RACE DAY registrations
RACE DAY packet pick up is available
Thursday, July 4th, 6 am Kings Park basketball courts (Park & Mallery streets)
Race Day 5k packet pickup: 6 am until 6:45 am
5k Race starts: 7 am
1 Mile packet pickup: 6 am until 7:45 am
1 Mile Run starts 8 am
Unclaimed packets/shirts will be forfeited at 8 am
Awards Ceremony: 8:30 am 

Starting Line:

Start/Finish Location: St Simons Park / Kings Park, 515 Park Ave, St Simons Island, GA 31522 (Across from Mallery Park and by the basketball court)

Only the Overall Fastest Male and Female winners are scored by gun time, everyone else is by chip time including Masters and Age Group. The fastest overall male last year had a total time of 16:37, female was 20:00

Otherwise, your time doesn't start until you cross the starting line

The starting line will be sorted by expected pace with 10 different pace group sections. 
PLEASE seed in the right location. Fastest up front and slower in the back. The line will stretch all the way back to Oak Street. 

The Push Rim division of 5 racing strollers for Adaptive athletes will be in front and start 2 minutes ahead of everyone else. 

Starting Line Sections by Pace per Mile

Section 1: 5–6-minute pace
Section 2: 6-7-minute pace
Section 3: 7-8-minute pace
Section 4: 8-9-minute pace
Section 5: 9-10-minute pace
Section 6: 10-11-minute pace
Section 7:11-12-minute pace
Section 8:12-13-minute pace
Section 9:14-15-minute pace
Section 10: Walking

Bathrooms:
2 multi-stall bathrooms across the street in Mallery Park by the ball field, 
8 bathrooms in the Village Pier Casino building on Beachview Drive (0.25 miles)
8 Porta-potties by the starting Line. 

Photos

Sports in Motion Photography will be photographing our event this year.  We are providing the digital images for FREE!  Please look for an email after the event with a direct link to your images or you can go to www.simphotos.com to view photos too. 

Vendors On-Site Race Day

Sandy Bottom Bagels
Parkers - handing out water
Georgia Watermelon Association - handing out watermelon
Herdon Farms - Selling bags of Vidalia onions
Pepsi - Ice cold water
Fuse Frozen Yogurt - handing out frozen yogurt while it lasts
Winn-Dixie & GITC - oranges, bananas, cookies, cups of UCAN electrolyte)
Friendly Express
Starbucks - Cold brew
Ultra Water Solutions
Torpedo Mosquito

5K ROUTE

USTAF Certified 5k route

5K Route video preview
Sunshine Festival July 4th 5k - MapMyRun

1 MILE ROUTE

The 1 Mile route will be 1 Loop this year
In order to make it 1 mile, the 1-mile start will be a good way behind the 5k startling at the corner of Park and Oak Street. However, the 1-mile will finish at the same finish line as the 5k. The 1 mill run is chipped time BUT everyone will start from a gun time, which means everyone has the same start time. 

Sunshine Festival 1 Mile - MapMyRun

AWARDS
Awards cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change. 

The Award Ceremony will take place at approximately 8:30 am

All 5k and 1-mile Mile participants who complete the course and are wearing a bib will receive a Finisher medal 

Chip timing provided by Second Wind Timing

5k Awards: Overall, Masters (40-49), Grand Masters (50-59), Senior Masters (60+), and top 3 male and female finishers in each age group. Age groups - 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over.

Overall & Master Awards include a medal, a bag of Vidalia Onions from Herndon Farms, and a free pair of shoes from Game Changers Running Store
Note: Overall Male and Female start time is at gun time, Masters and Age Group awards are from chip time. 
1 Mile Awards: 12 and under, top 3 male and female, 13 and over, top 3 male and female 
Push Rim Participant Award: riders & pushers receive a finisher medal, pushers compete in 5k
Award for the Best Costume.  (1st Place only, must be present at the Awards ceremony for judging)
Award for the Best Team (Largest).  (1st. place)
Award for the Fastest Team. (1st, 2nd & 3rd place) Based on the top 3 fastest on a team, one must be a female. Must have at least 3 people on a team. 
Award for Best Team Spirit. (determined by officials)
Award for the best-decorated homes along the route.  3 awards: Patriotic, Creative, and Old Glory 

Parking
Parking is a challenge, please carpool, be dropped off, ride a bike, or walk! Otherwise, you can park along Mallory Street, around the ballpark, in the village, by the library or lighthouse. Stay away from private residences. 

Hotel Discount
Sea Palms Resort
Attention Runners!  Getting a good night's rest is essential for crushing your 5k race, come stay with us at Sea Palms for a quiet and peaceful rest with a view! 
Use this link for 20% off!  Sea Palms Resort (travelclick.com)

Golden Isles Track Club uses the race proceeds to encourage and promote Good Health in the Golden Isles

2023 RECIPIENTS ($26,000) 

African American Cultural Center
Bike Walk Golden Isles
Brunswick High Cross Country
Brunswick High Track & Field
Brunswick Parks - Water Fountains
Brunswick—City Walk
Glynn County—Water Fountains
Girls on the Run
Glynn Academy Cross Country
Glynn Academy Track
Glynn MS Cross Country
Gullah Geechee BRAG Team
Jane Macon MS Cross Country
Jekyll XC Invitational
Keep Golden Isles Beautiful
Miles for Smiles
Needwood MS Cross Country
St Simons Christian Cross Country
Trails of Ft. Frederica
Trails of SSI Land Trust

Sunshine Festival Craft Show
Stay after the race and come shop 70 original art & handmade booths at Crafts in the Village located in the heart of the pier village. Shop original art, jewelry, decor, candles, soap, woodcrafts, birdhouses, Kona ice, AND MORE! We can't wait to see you after the race! For more information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/craftsinthevillage 

Golf Cart Parade: 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Fireworks: 9:00 pm