The Cotton Row Run 10K, 5K and 1-mile is Huntsville's Memorial Day race downtown. 2027 entry is $25 through Feb. 28; no race-day sign-up. Schedule, closures.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Huntsville Track Club’s Cotton Row Run pages and the City of Huntsville’s 2026 traffic notice.
The Cotton Row Run is Huntsville’s Memorial Day race: a 10K, a 5K and a 1-mile fun run that start and finish on Church Street by Big Spring Park. The Huntsville Track Club, which conducts it, says the race has run for 47 years and honors fallen service members; runners pass a living memorial flag line for fallen warriors whose families live in North Alabama. About 5,000 runners were expected in 2026, the city said. Registration for 2027 is open on the race site.
Know before you go
- Date: the club lists Memorial Day, Monday, May 24, 2027. Memorial Day 2027 is May 31; check with the club before booking travel.
- Start and finish: Church Street Southwest, Big Spring Park
- Cheapest entry: $25 for the 10K or 5K through Feb. 28, 2027
- No race-day registration; online sign-up ends May 12
- Questions: cottonrowrun@huntsvilletrackclub.org
Race-day schedule
From the club’s schedule of events, all times Central:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 to 6:45 a.m. | 10K late packet pickup |
| 6:30 a.m. | 10K opening ceremonies |
| 7 a.m. | 10K start |
| 7 to 8:45 a.m. | 5K and fun run packet pickup |
| 8:40 a.m. | 5K opening ceremonies |
| 9 a.m. | 5K start |
| 9:10 a.m. | 10K awards |
| 9:50 a.m. | 1-mile opening ceremonies |
| 10 a.m. | 1-mile fun run start |
| 10:15 a.m. | 5K awards |
Prices, 2027
Race fees from the club’s registration page, before processing fees. Huntsville Track Club and Birmingham Track Club members get 10% off.
| Sign up | 10K or 5K | Both races | 1-mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 25, 2026, to Feb. 28, 2027 | $25 | $40 | $12 |
| March 1 to April 30, 2027 | $30 | $50 | $15 |
| May 1 to May 12, 2027 | $35 | $60 | $15 |
| Late, at the expo May 23 | $45 | $70 | $15 |
Packet pickup
- Expo, packet pickup and late registration: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 23, 2027, at Bill Penney Toyota, 4808 University Drive NW
- Race morning: 6:15 to 8:45 a.m. in Big Spring Park near the start. The club strongly discourages race-day pickup.
The courses
The 10K runs through Blossomwood, Five Points and the Twickenham and Old Town districts, with the long climb up Mountainwood Drive to Toll Gate Road and Bankhead Parkway before returning down Pratt Avenue and Clinton Avenue. The 5K stays closer to downtown and is fast with moderate hills. All three courses are USATF certified, with water at about miles 2, 3, 4 and 5 and at the start and finish.
The 10K offers $12,000 in division prize money and up to $20,000 in race-record bonuses, the club says.
Road closures
For the 2026 race, the City of Huntsville said:
- Church Street between Clinton Avenue and Williams Avenue closed around 4:30 a.m. and reopened around noon
- The routes used parts of Church Street, Monroe Street, Williams Avenue, Holmes Avenue, California Street, Bankhead Parkway and Pratt Avenue
- Races ran from 7 a.m. to about 11 a.m., with heavy foot traffic downtown all morning
What to know
- No strollers, dogs or headphones on the course, under the club’s insurance.
- Spectators: the club posts a spectator map on its spectators page.
- Volunteers get a shirt and are entered in a drawing for five cash prizes; sign up on the volunteer page.
- Travel: the club points visitors to the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau for hotels.
More on the holiday weekend: Memorial Day in Huntsville. The track club’s December race weekend: the Rocket City Marathon.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Cotton Row Run?
The Huntsville Track Club’s race pages list Memorial Day, Monday, May 24, 2027. Memorial Day 2027 falls on May 31, so confirm the date with the club at cottonrowrun@huntsvilletrackclub.org before you book travel. In 2026 the race was on Memorial Day, May 25.
How much is the Cotton Row Run?
The 10K or 5K costs $25 through Feb. 28, 2027, then $30 through April 30 and $35 through May 12, plus fees. Both races together start at $40, and the 1-mile is $12 to $15. Late registration at the expo is $45.
Can I register for the Cotton Row Run on race day?
No. Online registration ends May 12, 2027, and the only later option is late registration at the expo the day before. There is no race-day registration.
Can I bring a stroller or dog to the Cotton Row Run?
No. The club says its insurance bars strollers, dogs and headphones on the course.
What roads close for the Cotton Row Run?
In 2026 Church Street between Clinton and Williams avenues closed around 4:30 a.m. and reopened around noon. The routes also used parts of Monroe Street, Williams and Holmes avenues, California Street, Bankhead Parkway and Pratt Avenue, Huntsville police said.
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