HomeFront's HALLOWEEN 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk

Please join us on Saturday, October 25, 2025 to change the lives of local children who are impacted by homelessness and poverty.

EVENT DETAILS

We are excited for you to join us at our completely Halloween-themed, USTAF certified racecourse, at 502 Carnegie Center, Princeton. This is a flat, scenic, and fun racecourse (with live bands, and Halloween surprises along the route) with both a 1 mile and 5K route.

Parking is available in front of building 502, with spillover parking in front of buildings 302. GPS is the best way to find the location. To get to the registration area, please enter the front door of building 502, walk through the lobby, and out the lobby's back door into the courtyard.

 
Mark Your Calendars: Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up is REQUIRED for anyone registering for the 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk.

The Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up is scheduled for Friday, October 24th between 3 pm and 7 pm at the racecourse: 502 Carnegie Center, Princeton. There will be in person registrations available the day of the event until the maximum 1200 runners/walkers limit is reached. 

REGISTRATION

ONLINE REGISTRATION closes on Tuesday, October 21 at 8:00AM, but fear not! - You can register in person for the 5K Run, 1 Mile Walk, or Pumpkin Dash on the Race Day! 

RACE-DAY REGISTRATION - Didn't get the chance to REGISTER before the race? Same-Day Registration will also be available - BUT ONLY IF WE HAVE NOT REACHED CAPACITY - from 8:30 - 9:40AM; Please arrive at 8:30AM to ensure your registration can be completed prior to the start of the events. The entrances into Carnegie Center Campus for the event will be closed promptly at 9:40AM.  (Please check back to this website Saturday night at 8:00PM to see if "Day Of" registration will be available for people who have not registered previously online. This will depend on whether we have reached our 1200 person sign up limit.) 

All events BEGIN AT 10:00AM, EXCEPT FOR The Pumpkin Dash which will begin at 9:00am and be run throughout the day.  

PRICING

Registration for the 5K Run is $40 if you register before Saturday, October 18, and $50 thereafter. Registration for the 1 Mile Walk is $25 if you register before Saturday, October 18, and $30 thereafter. Registration for the Pumpkin Dash is $10. The 5K Run is a timed event, the 1 Mile Walk is not timed.  

T-SHIRTS

T-shirts are provided to all 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk participants for the first 1000 registrants. Registrations after October 13 are not guaranteed the requested size, or a t-shirt, but extra t-shirts will be ordered to hopefully provide t-shirts for all registrants.  Pumpkin Dash participants receive other goodies!

MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT 

START A FUNDRAISER to multiplying your impact on the lives of local children who are homeless. When you register you will be able to create your own web page so you can ask friends and family to sponsor your efforts!

FORM A TEAM by inviting your family/friends/colleagues to join a team you start when you register. 

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES AT THE EVENT 

Bring your whole family to the event.  We will have a Trunk-or-Treat, Costume Contest, Preschool Pumpkin Dash, Kids' Activities (including art making, face painting, balloons), and we will keep everyone moving with the great live bands and music. It's perfect way to kick off Halloween! 

AWARDS FOR THE EVENT

• 5K trophies awarded for top 3 male/female runners overall and then in each age group:  0-15, 16-22, 23-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-68, 69+. 

• PRIZES awarded for top fundraising individual and top fundraising team.

• PRIZES for best adult and child Halloween costumes - no scary costumes please!

THANK YOU! 

The proceeds from this event support HomeFront's Children's Programs. Our children's programs include:

The Joy, Hopes and Dreams (JHD) children's enrichment, mentoring, and tutoring programming, which over 400 children impacted by homelessness and poverty attend in a normal year. JHD includes twice per week tutoring, art classes, field trips,

Camp Mercer, a trauma-informed summer day camp for children, who because of the instability of their housing situations would likely not succeed at other camps. We serve campers two nutritious meals a day, have academic enrichment each morning, fun activities and field trips every afternoon. Importantly, our camp (along with our year-round programming) allows parents to work or attend classes while their children are safe with us.

Atkinson Child Development Center, an engaging and welcoming childcare center at the Family Campus is fully licensed, available five days a week, and serves up to 30 children ages 0-5. Providing on-site childcare to the clients living at or taking programs at the Family Campus gives parents the peace of mind to focus on their own healing and address the housing, employment and other issues they are facing.

Children's Champion, which provides critical case management support, access to behavioral health services, and stimulating academic and arts enrichment for the children who stay with their families at our Family Campus. We provide individualized support to both parents and children, to help them heal and move forward in their journey. 

We have about 200 more spots for the Run/Walk & 20 more for the Preschooler Pumpkin Dash available through onsite registration at Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up (Sat Oct 26, 10am-12pm at 502 Carnegie Center). If any spots remain open after that, day of registration will be available at 8:30am on Sunday, Oct. 27 until all spots are full. Day Of registration, if available, will be held in the courtyard behind 502 Carnegie Center at 8:30am and will close at 9:40am– walk through building lobby of #502 Carnegie Center, and out the back door, into the registration courtyard.  Check back to this website on Saturday night for a message about whether Day Of registration will be available.  Thank you!  

WHAT TYPE OF RACES ARE YOU HOLDING?
Races include: 5K Run, 1 Mile Walk, Preschooler 100 Yard Pumpkin Dash. 

WHERE WILL THE EVENT BE HELD?  We are excited for you to join us at our completely Halloween-themed, USTAF certified race course, at 502 Carnegie Center, Princeton.  This is a flat, scenic, and fun race course (with live music and Halloween surprises along the route). 

WHERE DO I PARK?  Parking is at building 502 Carnegie Center Drive with spill over at 302 Carnegie Center Drive.  NOTE:  ACCESS TO THE CARNEGIE CENTER WILL CLOSE AT 9:30 AM SHARP! 

WHAT IS HOMEFRONT AND WHO BENEFITS FROM THE RACE?  HomeFront is a social services agency with over 30 programs designed to help families facing homelessness and poverty on their path to stability and hope. Because of your participation, local kids will shine. The proceeds from this event support HomeFront's year-round Children's and Family Support programming. From intensive services at our emergency shelter to a licensed childcare to year-round enrichment programming and more, we partner with the whole family to ensure parents and kids have the tools they need to thrive together. Because of your help, kids and families will be surrounded by the support and care they need, so thank you for WALKING or RUNNING.

WHERE CAN I GET MY PRE-RACE DAY PACKET?  REQUIRED PACKET PICK UP: Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up is REQUIRED for anyone registering for the 5K Run or the 1 Mile Walk. Pick up is Friday, October 24 from 3 pm to 7 pm at the race course: 502 Carnegie Center, Princeton. There will be in person registrations available there until the maximum 1200 runners/walkers limit is reached. 

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF THE DAY?   

EVENTS: 
All Events BEGIN AT 10:00AM except the Pumpkin Dash which will start at 9:00am and run in phases throughout the morning. Pleas note;  ACCESS TO THE CARNEGIE CENTER WILL CLOSE AT 9:30AM SHARP! 

RACE DAY REGISTRATION (if spots are available) - From 8:30 - 9:40AM; Please arrive at 8:30AM to ensure your registration can be completed prior to the start of the events.  The entrances into Carnegie Center Campus for the event will be closed promptly at 9:30AM.  Please check back to this website Friday night at 8pm to see if "Day Of" registration will be available for people who have not registered previously online.  This will depend on whether we have reached our 1200 person sign up limit by that time.

T-SHIRTS - Event T-shirts will be provided to the first 1000 registrants of the 5K and 1 Mile Walk events. Shirts will be distributed with registration packets at packet pick-up on Friday, October 24th. Registrations after October 13th are not guaranteed a t-shirt or their requested size, but extra t-shirts will be ordered so hopefully they can be provided for all registrants and we may have some available for race day registrants.

RACE DAY SAFETY AND WEATHER In order to keep our participants and attendees safe, access to the course and parking area will be closed fifteen minutes prior to the race start time. PLEASE NOTE: ACCESS TO THE CARNEGIE CENTER WILL CLOSE AT 9:30 AM SHARP! The race will continue rain or shine and will be cancelled in case of lightening or thunderstorm threat. The course will be clearly marked with bright colored tape and directional signs. EMT services will be located in the courtyard of building 502, near the registration gazebo, and the location is indicated on the course map, If at any time you find yourself in distress on the course, or notice another participant or attendee in distress, please flag a race course volunteer (they will be wearing black HomeFront volunteer t-shirts) and they will contact someone at the EMT tent to render aid. There will also be two police officers stationed near the route one entrances and one officer monitoring the course and parking lot. Please refer to the course map for locations of the water stations. There are two water stations on the course and one after the finish line in the courtyard of Building 502. 

WHEN DOES ONLINE REGISTRATION END?   Online registration is ongoing. Please see above for day-of registration information.
 
Pricing - Registration for the 5K is $40 and $25 for the 1 Mile. The 5K is a timed event, the 1 Mile is not timed.  Sponsors receive special pricing. See SPONSORSHIP for details. Pumpkin Dash is $10.
 
CAN I FUNDRAISE FOR HOMEFONT?  Of course!  Make A Bigger Impact - When you register you will be able to create your own web page so you can ask friends and family to sponsor your efforts!  Please consider multiplying your impact on the lives of local children who are homeless by starting a fundraiser. You may also use this off-line fundraiser form.

CAN I FORM A TEAM?  Forming  a Team is a great way to get friends, family and co-workers involved!  Create your team and invite your family/friends/colleagues to join a team you start when you register.  This year your team can be a mix of in person and virtual attendees. 

IS THE RACE USTAF CERTIFIED? Yes.

 
WHAT FAMILY ACTIVITIES ARE AT THE EVENT?  Family Fun Activities at the In Person Event - Bring your whole family to the event.  We will have a Trunk-or-Treat (cars full of goodies decorated in Halloween themes), Costume Contest, Preschool 100 Yard Dash, Pumpkin Decorating, Fun Photo Area for Kids, and live bands. The perfect way to kick off Halloween! 
 
ARE THERE AWARDS?  YES, Awards will be given for the Event as follows:

5K trophies awarded for top 3 male/female runners overall and in each age group:  15 and under, 16-22, 23-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-68, and 69+. (Overall winners do not receive trophy in age group as well).
PRIZES awarded for top fundraising individual and top fundraising team.
PRIZES for best adult and child Halloween costumes - no scary costumes please!

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
 

Optional: Post your pics and videos to our Facebook event here!

Optional: Post Your Results - Some people like to enter their times from their runs to RunSignUp or photos from their Strava App to have a record of what they did.  If you would like to do so, click this link - coming soon!