Child Protection Center Announces Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest in North Port

The Child Protection Center (CPC) invites the community to join the first annual Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at CPC’s Monda Family Campus of Healing in North Port. The event will feature a 5K race, a children’s Mini Monster Dash, and a free Fall family festival.
 
The Runaway Pumpkin 5K welcomes all runners and walkers, while the 100m Mini Monster Dash offers kids 12 and under the opportunity to race. A virtual 5K is also available. Race activities begin at 8 a.m., followed by the free Family Fest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at 5600 Peace River Road in North Port. 
 
Festival attendees will enjoy food trucks, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, child-friendly activities and sensory stations, lawn games, photo opportunities, community partners, a bounce station, and CPC’s PAWS therapy dogs in the popular puppy pit. Children can also participate in age-based costume contests. Admission to the Family Fest is free and open to the public, with the goal of providing local families with an accessible, low-to-no-cost day of connection, celebration, and support for safe childhoods – all while having fun!
 
Proceeds from the event will support CPC’s mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Funds raised help provide trauma-informed therapy, forensic interviews, prevention education, advocacy, and other critical services for local children and families. 
 
The Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest is also part of the regional “Hope on the Run” 5K Series, a collaborative initiative between CPC, Bridge A Life, and The Twig in support of children in foster care and survivors of child abuse. Participants who register for all three races will receive a special Hope on the Run finisher medal at the final event of the series. 
 
To register, sponsor the event, or learn more, visit CPCSarasota.org/events. Businesses and organizations that  would be a good fit for local families and are interested in participating in our Vendor Village, or to inquire about volunteering, please reach out to Kingsley Event Consulting at KingsleyEventsTeam@outlook.com.
 
Community members are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations during the event to support local families facing food insecurity during the holiday season. 
 
The Child Protection Center’s (CPC) mission is the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse, as the organization envisions a community where children are safe from abuse and free to thrive. For over 45 years, CPC has been serving Sarasota and DeSoto Counties in the State of Florida and is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. For more information on CPC or to inquire about ways to get involved, please visit them at  www.cpcsarasota.org or call 941-365-1277.