MLK Day 5K Drum Run - Birmingham

MLK Day 5K Drum Run - Birmingham takes place in Birmingham, Alabama, on January 16, 2027, as an annual community event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Three formats are offered: a 10K and a 5K, both at 8:00 AM, and a 1-mile youth fun run/walk at 9:00 AM. Local youth drumline groups perform around the event, and registration fees act as a fundraiser that lets each entrant direct support to a school, a church or a local nonprofit.

The event is built to bring together people of every age, background and fitness level, so the atmosphere leans communal rather than competitive. The 5K is the natural entry point if you are new to racing, the 10K asks for a base of about an hour of continuous running, and the youth mile gives kids their own start. Organization is handled by The Leftover Energy Foundation Inc. (LEFI), a nonprofit supporting music and the arts in the community.