Folkmoot USA announces the 4th Annual

5K Run/Walk & Kid’s Fun Run

Saturday, July 18

8:00 am

 The Folkmoot 5K Run/Walk & Kid’s Fun Run (co-sponsored with Haywood County Parks & Recreation and Waynesville Parks & Recreation) announces improvements to this year's race, held each year at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville, North Carolina. For the first time, the race will utilize chip-timing for all runners through Set Up Events, a scoring and timing company. "We have reached a level of participation in the race that warrants the need for a computerized timing system for more accurate and timely results," says Scot Worley, Race Director.  "Set Up Events is not only providing scoring and timing, but will also handle online registration and construct a more professional looking finish line." 

5K Run/Walk Adult Registration and Fees:  Adults: $20 in advance, $25 on Race Day. Participants can register before July 18th at Folkmoot USA.  Every registered runner will receive a race t-shirt. 

Packet Pick-Up and Race Day Registration:  Packet Pick Up and Registration will start at 6:30am at the Start/Finish area. 

Awards:  Top 3 male/female overall and top male/female Masters will be awarded trophies. The first 3 male and female finishers in the 15 and under, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80+ age groups will receive awards. 

Kids Fun Run:  $8 advance, $10 on Race Day. 1-Mile Fun Run for Ages 15 and under. All participants will receive a Race T-Shirt and finishers medal.

Course:  USATF Certification # NC06050PH. The Folkmoot 5K is a loop course beginning in front of the Folkmoot Center on Virginia Ave. It will run through the town of Hazelwood on Hazelwood Avenue before turning right on Elysinia Avenue and right on Sulphur Springs Road. After this long gradual downhill, the course will turn right on Boyd Avenue and right on Brown Avenue. After a short climb up Brown Avenue the course turns left on Georgia Avenue and climbs gradually through the residential area. It finishes up back on Hazelwood Avenue providing a downhill return to the start/finish on Virginia Avenue. There will be water on the course at the 1.8 mile point. Each mile marker will be clearly marked with split times called out at every mile. The 2009 Folkmoot 5K Run/Walk is managed by Set-Up Events. Registration is available on-line at www.setupevents.com, or contact Race Manager Scot Worley, 828-452-6789, or the Folkmoot Offices, 877-FOLKUSA (877-365-5872). 

Directions to the Folkmoot 5K--From South: (Sylva/Franklin) Take US 23/74 North to Exit 100 (Hazelwood Avenue) Turn right and follow Hazelwood Avenue through the stoplight to Virginia Avenue on right. Use the parking lot on corner next to Hazelwood Baptist Church.

From North/East/West: (Asheville/Knoxville) Take I-40 to Exit 27 to Waynesville. Take US 23/74 South to Exit 100. Turn left on Eagles Nest Road. Follow through stoplight to stop sign at Hazelwood Avenue. Turn left and follow Hazelwood Avenue, through stoplight, to Virginia Avenue on right. Use parking lot on corner next to Hazelwood Baptist Church.  

he Folkmoot 5K is sponsored in part by: Pepsi, HomeTrust Bank, Waynesville Inn & Spa, Mast General Store, Smoky Mountain News, OldTown Bank, Volvo, Clear Channel, Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters and Rotary International. 

The Folkmoot 5K Run/Walk & Kid’s Fun Run is part of the two-week-long Folkmoot USA Festival, held on July 16 – 26 in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Folkmoot is one of only three international folk festivals in the United States, where over 300 dancers and musicians from countries throughout the world travel to Waynesville, North Carolina for a two-week show. Traditional and authentic folk performances are scheduled with performers from Serbia, Romania, India, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, Kenya, Mexico and Israel. Performances will take place throughout nine counties during the festival. Held for 25 consecutive years, Folkmoot is North Carolina’s Official International Festival and has been designated “One of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. Folkmoot USA attracts 100,000 visitors to Western North Carolina and pumps more than $4 million into the local economy each year.