On August 15, runners will head out from Kelsey‑Hutchinson Founders Park and make their way through Highlands’ in‑town neighborhoods for the annual Rotary Twilight 5K.
At this point, the race feels like more than a competition. It has become a community tradition that just happens to start with a starting gun.
Race director Bill Grubb expects more than 250 registrants this year, though that number only tells part of the story. Participants typically come from a dozen or more states, and the age range runs from stroller‑bound toddlers to seasoned master runners. Families often move together at the back of the pack while experienced runners set the pace up front, all sharing the same neighborhood streets.
The course has stayed the same by design. It winds through in‑town roads past Harris Lake and other familiar landmarks, and while relatively flat by Highlands standards, it is still challenging enough to keep runners honest.
“We don’t intend to change that,” Grubb says.
That consistency keeps people coming back. Returning runners know the rhythm of the route, where to settle in and where to push, while first‑timers find a course that feels approachable.
The race began in 2013 as a modest fundraiser with an $8,500 goal and has grown steadily in turnout and impact. Last year, 294 runners registered and the event generated more than $35,000 for the Highlands Community Child Development Center.
This year, more than 40 local businesses and individual patrons are supporting the race. Proceeds for 2026 will benefit the Gordon Center for Children, a program of Highlands United Methodist Church focused on child development. The race has always kept its giving local and specific, supporting the Civic Center, school technology, youth mental health initiatives, and now child development programs.
The race begins at 6:00 P.M., when the August heat has usually eased. Spectators line parts of the route, and by the time the first finishers return to the park, a crowd is waiting.
Finishers of legal age receive complimentary beer, children get light‑up necklaces, and awards recognize top male and female runners along with age‑group winners.
Afterward, the evening shifts into a relaxed celebration. The park fills for an all‑ages concert by local favorite ABC Combo, and the finish area becomes a place to linger.
Registration is open through RunSignUp at runsignup.com/Race/NC/Highlands/HighlandsTwilight5K.
The Twilight 5K works because it is consistent, accessible, and rooted in the community it supports. You can run, walk, or push a stroller. However you take part, you are part of the same evening.
Favorites Count: 0