Albany Move'n'Groove 2026

1325 Portland Avenue, Albany CA

Sunday, May 31st, 2026

Run, walk, or stroll a 5K in a flat loop course circling Albany CA's Memorial Park and Albany High School while listening to live music from multiple bands in the fifth annual Move'n'Groove on Sunday May 31, 2026 at 10:15am!

A kids-only 0.5 mile race for kids 10 and under takes place before the 5K at 9:45am.

This musical festival and fitness event will feature bands representing an eclectic array of diverse musical genres positioned around the course during the races playing till Noon. On-site food vendors may be present — stay tuned for news!

Registration is only required for those competing in the 5K or kids race. There is no fee required to attend the event to watch the bands, enjoy the live music, or rec skate on the streets after the race! This fun community event is funded in part through the City of Albany's unique Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax. Fiscal sponsorship is provided by the Albany Community Foundation.

Key Dates & Prices

Kids race: $5
5K Early Bird 🐦: Feb 1–28 = $10
5K Regular Bird: Mar 1 – Apr 30 = $15
5K Late Bird 🐤: May 1 – May 28 = $20

Thursday 28 May 2026 is the last day for online registration. A limited number of slots will be available for sign ups at our packet pickup.

Packet pickup will be on the Saturday before the event at Road Runner Sports in Berkeley, Noon-3pm.

T-Shirts will be available for purchase separately through April 30 for an additional $15. Indicate your T-shirt preference during online registration. A limited number of shirts may be available for purchase at the event and/or packet pickup.

Summary of features for 2026:

Three (or four) live bands playing around the race course till Noon.
T-shirt available for purchase separately through April 30.
A kids-only race for ages 10 and younger on a 1-loop short course (0.5mi)
Food vendors (pending)
Pre-event training sessions by IBX Fitness

Event Schedule

Kids 10 and under go first at 9:45AM and complete one loop (0.5 mi) instead of 6 loops for the 5K. After the kids race, the runners/walkers/strollers/para athletes will line up 10:00AM. Participants will be seeded into different starting waves based on their expected pace as entered in the registration form. The first (fastest) wave starts at 10:15AM with subsequent waves leaving every 2 minutes.

There will not be a separate roller/inline skating division for the 5K this year, but attendees are welcome to skate or scooter recreationally on the streets & sidewalks to enjoy the bands after most of the 5K participants have finished (starting around 10:30am) and until the street closure ends (Noon). The streets & sidewalks are smooth, so you can 🛼 to the music after the 5K! Be mindful of pedestrians, and no electric scooters – human powered only!

About the course

The 5K course is fast and nearly flat and will be closed to traffic and free of parked cars during the event. Here's a Strava segment for the course which includes an elevation profile. Participants are responsible for keeping track of their own lap count (6 total). Course distance is not USATF certified, but the distance is quite close to a true 5K based on GPS (a little longer, 5.25K). Chip timing will ensure accurate results for all participants. Pavement is free of potholes and generally in great shape. Note that roads are slightly cambered (sloping down near the sides), which can cause knee/ankle pain. Running or walking in the center of the street will alleviate that problem.