The Pirate 5k Run/Walk

Join us for our 4th Annual  Pirate 5k Run/Walk

                                              (dress in pirate costume theme if you wish)

Date: Saturday

August 15, 2026

Time:07:30am 5k Kicks off

Register on race day between 6:30-7:00am

Age Based Pricing for Students

Location: 

St. Luke’s Episcopal

Church 

315 North Cedar Street

Lincolnton, NC  28092

Packet Pickup:

Friday Aug 14th from 4-6pm
Saturday Aug 15th from 6:30-7am (At the Parrish house at St Luke’s)

Awards:

Overall Male and Female

1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each age group

Finisher medal for all participants 

Age Groups (Male and Female) 14 and under 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Deadline for guaranteed shirt: Aug. 3rd

The Third annual Pirate 5K Run/Walk will begin on North Cedar Street in Lincolnton at Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.  The church graveyard is the final resting place of Lorenzo Ferrier who may or may not be Jean Lafitte.

From St. Luke’s the runners will work their way to the Lincolnton Rail Trail at First Federal Park at East Pine Street crossing.

For more information pertaining to St. Luke’s please visit the church website.

https://www.stlukeslincolnton.com

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lincolnton, is a North Carolina non-profit 501 (c)(3) and donations may be tax deductible.

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ABOUT THE RAIL TRAIL:

     The Marcia H. Cloninger Rail-Trail, known locally as the Lincolnton Rail-Trail, is a 1.5-mile paved trail, and is especially popular with walkers, joggers, bikers, and parents pushing baby strollers. Benches line the route, inviting you to pause and take in this enchanting town and trail. The trail is maintained by the City of Lincolnton.

     The trail offers a chance to search the heart of this small Southern town, highlighted by a stately courthouse, model Main Street, thriving arts scene, and nearby lakes and mountains. Once an eyesore covered in kudzu and debris, the former Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor is now the pride and joy of “Lovable Lincolnton”.

For more information on the Lincolnton Rail Trail visit https://www.carolinathreadtrailmap.org/trails/trail/marcia-h-cloninger-rail-trail

ABOUT THE PIRATE:

"In 2021, a book entitled Jean Lafitte Revealed, Unraveling One of America’s Longest-Running Mysteries by Ashley Oliphant and Beth Yarbrough presents the theory that Jean Laffite, did in fact successfully change his name and live out the rest of his natural life, dying 1875 at the age of 96, under the pseudonym, “Lorenzo Ferrer” in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Ferrer is buried in a marked grave at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Lincolnton, North Carolina. The grave is commonly referred to as locals as “The Pirate’s Grave.” Whether or not the story is true, it would make for a great movie."

https://potus-geeks.livejournal.com/1456158.html

The Current:

"Laffite’s legend in Lincolnton involves a possible son by Louisa, an alleged murder at a plantation, an argument with another Frenchmen also living undercover and a sword with his initials hidden in plain sight."

https://thecurrentla.com/2021/a-pirate-gets-his-due

The event will start at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 315 North Cedar Street, the runners will travel south to E. Pine St., turning right on E. Pine, runners will travel 1 ½ blocks west on East Pine, then turn left, entering the Lincolnton Rail Trail at First Federal Park.  The runners will travel south on the Rail Trail to the end, Motz Ave., at which time they will reverse course re-entering the Rail Trail traveling north to Pole #N-12 at which time they will again reverse course and travel south to the E. Sumner St. crossing, where they will exit the Rail Trail, then travel approximately 25 yards and bear right onto N. Poplar St., the runners will travel one block then turn left onto E. McBee St., travel one block turning right onto North Cedar, then travel one block to the finish.

View Map for parking opportunities on race day!