ELM GROVE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 0.5K OKTOBERFEST FUN RUN PRESENTED BY HONEST TEETH & SPONSORED BY O’DONOGHUE’S

2026 0.5K OKTOBERFEST FUN RUN - THE RUNNING EVENT FOR THE REST OF US - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19!

Join the Elm Grove Community Foundation 0.5K Fun Run presented by Honest Teeth & sponsored by O’Donoghue’s, along with your fellow underachievers for a day (actually more like 15 minutes) of glory and celebration to kick off Elm Grove's Annual Oktoberfest! Race proceeds will benefit the Elm Grove Community Foundation. The "race" (emphasis on the air quotes) will start at O'Donoghue's Irish Pub and will finish....well, at 3:45 P.M. at the Oktoberfest beer tent!  SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER NOW!

"The World's Most Important Race in the History of the World, Ever" is a tongue-in-cheek event that will not only lampoon the typical 5K, but also those made-for-overachievers-obstacle-course-adventure-races (warning, this race is too short for adventure racing which means there is no adventure racing)! This race is more of a walk/run beer parade from O'Donoghue's Irish Pub to the Village Park Oktoberfest grounds to kick off the festivities. Children are encouraged to participate and will enjoy root beer along the course. Adults over 21 will enjoy some great brews along the way.

ABOUT THE RACE
The "Race" will start at O'Donoghue's Irish Pub - check-in will take place in the parking lot at 2:00 P.M. and the "race" will start promptly at 3:30 P.M. Because they are awesome, our friends at O'Donoghue's will provide all participants with a free beer (beer-aid station #1 of 3) before the start of the race, so get there early. Hooray for beer! The "race" will then head across Watertown Plank, down Elm Grove Street, to Juneau where you will encounter challenging obstacles. And by challenging, we mean 0.5K NOT challenging, there actually might be no challenges, unless drinking beer is considered a challenge?!?!? At the corner of Legion and Juneau (beer-aid station #2 of 3) participants must stop for one more can of beer, sponsored by our friends at Leinenkugel's, because you're in Wisconsin, AM I RIGHT?! The "Race" will continue into the village park where you will finish in a blaze of glory at the Oktoberfest tent (beer-aid station #3)...which will conveniently be filled with MORE BEER! It is here where the magic happens because now that you are a "Finisher", you can take a whole bunch of selfies, post them all over social media, and generally remind all of your friends just how superior you are to them. If you don't take a selfie and post it somewhere, did it even happen?! Exactly. The Elm Grove Community Foundation will offer a free beer at the end of the race. Yay beer!  Yay finishers!  Yay selfies!

EVENT DETAILS

$35 EARLY BIRD Race Registration (through June 25, 2026)

$40 June 26- September 19

$15 Kids Race Registration (Ages 2-12)

GOODIES AND FUN STUFF
*T-shirts of course - IF YOU WANT A T-SHIRT - AND WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED - YOU MUST REGISTER BY END OF DAY SEPTEMBER 2.

*3 FREE BEERS! 

*Pre-Race Program will start at 3P.M. at O'Donoghue's where you will receive your 1st beer while listening to the World's BEST accordion player (Roger Boll). He is one year better and therefore, likely the best accordion player you will hear in Elm Grove on that day. He’s taking requests, but please, no rap.  We will finish up with the National Anthem, because we’re in America, right?

*Participation "Medals" (everyone gets recognized for their achievements at this event, no matter how bad they are, because we are all about creating an environment of positivity and self-worth).

*Of course, fan favorites from last year will be back - the Beer (Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest) Root Beer (Henry Weinhards Craft Root Beer) station at the halfway point for an energy burst to the end AND a designated smoking section called nature, the medical tent, and The Rolling Stones* playing all their hits at the finish line. *Band subject to change...do you really think we can get the Rolling Stones? Yeah, you're right, we can't!

*The festivities will kick off in the Elm Grove park on Friday, September 19, at 5pm with German and local beers and an array of food trucks. We will also enjoy the music of Evan and Tom Leahy, as we gear up for the big event! 

*Please note that on Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18 we will offer a packet pick-up at the Village Park from 5PM - 8PM! 

VOLUNTEERS
Yes, we need them! Please see opportunities on the 0.5K Sign Up Genius! 

Please spread the word to your friends. And we'll gladly put your high schooler to work too and give them a signed Community Service form.  

Please join us for a unique event that promises to be full of beer, friends, fun and fundraising for a great local charity. SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER NOW!

IF YOU WANT A T-SHIRT - AND WHO DOESN'T WANT ONE OF THESE BAD BOYS - YOU MUST REGISTER BY END OF DAY SEPTEMBER 2.