Traffic Jam'in 5K Run, 5K Walk, and 1 Mile Family Fun Run

Join us as we kick off the Traffic Jam'in Festival with a flat, scenic 5k run and 5k walk around the lake and nearby neighborhood. Finish strong in front of our community Events Park Pavilion while listening to live music!  Water station at the 1/2 way mark and refreshments and award ceremony following the 5K.  Music on the course!  

Start time for the 5k Run and 5k Walk is 7:30 pm

Mile Start time is 7 pm

Pricing: 5k run, 5k walk and Virtual 5k: Special New Years Day pricing $20 valid 1/1 to 1/15, then $25 until 5/10, $30 from 5/11 to 7/05. $35 7/06 to 7/10. 1 mile family fun run: $5  

Medals and complimentary beverage for all 5K finishers.  (image of medal below)

Overall Awards will be given to the top male and female finishers of Open (all ages), and Masters (40+), Senior Masters (60+) in the 5k Run, and 5k Walk.

Age Groups Awards to the top 3 places in each age group: Awards will be made by local artisans from the Grass Lake area.  

5k Run age groups: 0-12, 13-14, 15-17, 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69. 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85+

5k Walk age groups: 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Back by popular demand, local homemade treats after the races! These cookies were a HUGE hit last year and we are SO excited to have them back again this year. YUM!

Tech style t-shirts again this year in both Men and Women sizes! Shirts guaranteed to registrations received by 6/19. Shirts available as supplies last after that date.

Packet Pickup information: 

Early packet pickup Thursday, July 9th: From 4-8pm at the Village of Grass Lake offices, 119 N. Lake Street, Grass Lake, MI 49240

Race day Friday, July 10th: From 5 to 6:30 pm at the starting area of the race.

Be sure to pre-register for the race! There is no on site race day registration. On-line registration will remain open until 6:30 pm on Friday July 10th. 

Team Discount: Form a Team of 4 or more and receive a $5 per person team discount. Team members 1-3 will receive a $5 refund once member 4 joins. Member 4+ will automatically pay $5 less. Join in the fun! Team discounts apply after the New Year special pricing ends, no team discounts 1/1 thru 1/15. 

Race day parking:  Festival guests can park in the following locations:
Michigan Ave. downtown Grass Lake
Village Parking Lot between Drake St. and S. Lake St.
Grass Lake County Park
1st Methodist and Federated Church Parking Lots at Michigan Ave. and Lafayette St.
Stone's 1 Stop Auto
Grass Lake Township Office lot
Production Realty Office - 230 W. Michigan Ave.

Special parking for event participants provided by our Title Sponsor - The Lost Railway Museum. Please use the lot across the street from the Lost Railway Museum on Michigan Ave.

Please note there are no dogs permitted at this event. Service dogs excluded. Please see the full policy under Race Info. This is for the safety of both our participants and your dogs. Thank you. 

The race will be professionally timed by the Michigan Running Foundation. Results will be live during the race and posted on this site.

ORS Race Series has adopted a NO dog/animal policy for race participants, volunteers, and spectators.  We are adopting this in an abundance of caution for the safety of all people attending and participating in our races.  

Please be it known that we are dog lovers and many of our race directors have and train with animals of their own.  Unfortunately, even good dogs, dogs that are leashed, muzzled can cause problems at our races.  Dogs, can intimidate other visitors; and not everyone is comfortable around dogs. They can also be injured in fights with other animals or unintentionally hinder safe travelling/passing along the courses.

To prevent these problems and more, DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ANY ORS RACE SERIES RACE. Unfortunately, the behaviors of a few dog owners in the past have highlighted that allowing dogs at our events is a liability we cannot shoulder. Should your family or friends bring a dog to the event, you will be immediately disqualified from the event. It is your responsibility to ensure they know to leave poochie at home.

**NOTE: Service dogs are allowed; in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act, including titles II and III of the law. Those that wish to run/walk with a service animal, please communicate directly with the specific race director to provide supporting documentation, as well as have the animal in their appropriate service animal attire on race day.  We will also ask that you start at the back of the group to allow the crowd to disperse, allowing an open road course for participants.

If you cannot make the Traffic Jam'in 5k Run/Walk in person, but would still like to support this cause, you can complete the VIRTUAL Traffic Jam'in 5k Run/Walk!  A virtual race is a race that can be run (or walked) from any location you choose. You can run, jog, or walk on the road, on the trail, on the treadmill, at the gym or on the track (or even at another race). You get to run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself.  All participants will receive a medal!

What: This is a Virtual 5K, so you choose your own course and time yourself.

When: Complete your race any time on or before July 10th! *Medals and t-shirts will ship by the end of July.

Where:  You choose the course and you time yourself. Results can be posted on the results tab at the top of the Run Signup page. Please note virtual participants are not eligible for awards and results are not entered into the ORS Race Series scoring.

Why: We are raising money to support these wonderful charities; Friends of Jay, Excelsior Masonic Lodge 116, Grass Lake Senior Center, American Legion Post 250, VFW Post 10194, Grass Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Lost Railway Museum, Knights of Columbus - Jackson County.  

Cost:  Special New Years Day pricing $20 valid 1/1 to 1/15. $25 until 5/10, $30 from 5/11 to 7/05, and includes a finishers medal and a T-shirt. You must register by 6/19 to be guaranteed a t-shirt.

All 5k participants will receive a custom finishers medal, designed by one of our Grass Lake Road Runner members.

Tech style t-shirts in both Men and Women sizes! Youth sizes are cotton shirts. Shirts guaranteed to registrations received by 6/19. Shirts available as supplies last after that date. 

Check out our beautiful 2026 t-shirt design! 

Women shirt sizing information

Men shirt sizing information

Handmade ceramic pint-glass with the race logo for overall Male & Female and overall Male & Female Masters (40+)

Coaster for 1st place in age group. Ornaments for 2nd and 3rd place in age groups. Kids will receive a special coin. 

Awards are handmade with love from local artists! ❤️ 2025 images shown, 2026 images posted once available. 

This race is part of the 2026 ORS Race Series

ORS is proud to be the title sponsor of the ORS Race Series with races of all distances and challenge levels throughout the year.

Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists is the leading physical therapy, athletic training and sports performance coaching company in the Jackson area.

The ORS Race Series mission is to create and support opportunities for Jackson and the surrounding communities to get out and move, and to support a healthy and fit lifestyle for all ages.

To learn more click here: ORS Race Series