Child Protection Center Hosts First Annual Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest in North Port

The Child Protection Center (CPC) invites the community to celebrate the Fall season at the first annual Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at CPC’s Monda Campus of Healing, located at 5600 Peace River Road in North Port.
 
The free Family Fest offers local children a safe and joyful seasonal celebration, marking a new tradition for CPC as it grows its presence in North Port. More than a dozen community partners have come together to make the morning magical. Festival attendees will enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, pumpkin painting, arts and crafts, sensory stations, lawn games, a literacy station with free children’s books, Home Depot do-it-yourself family kits, princess characters, fire truck demonstrations, giveaways, photo opportunities, and a puppy pit with CPC’s PAWS therapy dogs – all at no cost. Food trucks and a mini market will be on site with meals and goodies for sale. Children can also participate in age-based costume contests beginning at 11 a.m. Admission to the Family Fest, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 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.
 
Participating partners include the North Port Fire Department, North Port Police Department, The Patterson Foundation, Venice Theatre, Suncoast Early Learning, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Bridge A Life, North Port Gymnastics, Prep Academy Tutors, and more.
  
Race activities begin at 8 a.m., starting with the 100m Mini Monster Dash for kids 12 and under and followed by the 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. Child-friendly costumes are welcome for all participants. A virtual 5K is also available. The race is 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.
 
Proceeds from the event support CPC’s mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. The event comes as CPC expands its North Port campus to meet the growing demand for local child abuse services. Non-perishable food donations will also be accepted throughout the Runaway Pumpkin 5K and Family Fest, and all items will be distributed in time for the holidays to local families facing food insecurity through partnering organizations.
 
“Our North Port campus was built to be a place of healing, and we want families to know it’s also a place of joy and community,” said Douglas Staley, CPC’s Executive Director. “Every runner and family who joins us is helping provide what we want for all kids – the joys of a safe and loving childhood.”
 
Full details and race registration are available at cpcsarasota.org/events/runaway-pumpkin
 
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. 
 
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Editor’s Note: Photo and interview opportunities are available on October 31, including the kids’ costume contests at 11 a.m., CPC’s PAWS therapy dogs, and North Port first responders. To arrange coverage or interviews, contact Elizabeth K. Topp at (941) 286-8844 or ElizabethT@cpcsarasota.org.