Red Brick Run offers jump start on festival morning
By Sherry Lucas
The Red Brick Run is on track for a second successful year.
The run debuted in 2025 as an additional feature of the popular Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival in Clinton, coinciding with its move to springtime. And, while the only music may be piping in on earbuds in this particular event, and the only arts element may be the colors and patterns on running gear and T-shirts, the 5K Run/Walk is right in stride with the small-town and family-friendly vibe that the festival is known for.
Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival, a joint production of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, City of Clinton and Main Street Clinton, is March 26-28, concentrated primarily on the city’s brick streets.
“Our goal is just to have a complete day of events, and check the boxes for everybody in the community,” Red Brick Run coordinator Nathan Cummins said of the festival that swelled last year with new events such as the run, StoryFest, a crawfish boil and a plein air paint out. “We just try to check a lot of boxes and have a full day — whatever wets your whistle.”
The Red Brick Run kicks off the biggest day of the festival at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 28, starting at the Olde Towne Depot in Clinton. Late registration, $40, continues up to race day. While late registrants aren’t guaranteed a race T-shirt, they do get a last-minute check of the forecast. The race ends at 9 a.m.
Race packet pickup for participants is 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 27, at the Red Brick Roads ticket gate on East Leake Street. Packets can also be picked up at 6 a.m. on race day at the Olde Towne Depot.
Red Brick Run registration includes a one-day pass to the Red Brick Roads Music & Arts Festival, a welcome respite after all that fun exertion. For those who want to participate but cannot do so in person, there is a virtual race option.
Cummins said 65 participants had signed up by press time. Late signup is typical, and about 150 are expected on the course for the run, bringing it in line with last year’s debut.
Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female finishers in the 5K walk and the 5K run. It’s a brick with a plaque, tying in well with one of the city’s most charming aspects. “It’s something people thought was pretty cool,” Cumins said.
Find more details on the festival website, RedBrickRoads,com. Registration is available at RunSignup.com/Race/MS/Clinton/RedBrickRun.
