Sorghum Day - John Lively Memorial 5k Run

About the Festival and Run

• Celebration: The Wewoka Sorghum Festival is an award-winning celebration honoring the age-old art of making sorghum molasses.
• Community: It showcases the traditions and cultures of Wewoka, one of the oldest and most historic towns in Oklahoma.
• History: The festival, started in 1976, draws crowds of over 25,000 to central Oklahoma on the fourth Saturday in October.
• Visitors: People come from across Oklahoma, the US, and abroad to immerse themselves in the vibrant history of the capital of the great Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

Race Information

• Date: 2026 marks the 32nd running of the John Lively Memorial 5K race on the morning of the festival.
• Honoree: The race honors long-time Rotarian and community leader John Lively.
• Location: The race/walk will start and finish in front of the Seminole Nation Museum at 6th St. and Wewoka Ave.
• Post-Race: Participants can enjoy the parade and other festival activities just a few blocks away in downtown Wewoka.

Cost, Registration, and T-shirts

• Pre-registration: The price to pre-register is $30.
• Race Day: Race day registration will be available for $35.
• Shirts: The first 50 entrants will receive race t-shirts.
• Contact: For more information, contact Wewoka Sorghum Festival at 405-257-5485 or visit www.sorghumfestivalok.org.

The 5k Course

• Certification: USATF Certified 5k Course.
• Starting Point: Starts and finishes at the Seminole Nation Museum just south of downtown Wewoka.
• Map: See below for the link to the course map.

Awards

• Trophies: Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 overall male and female finishers.
• Medals: There will be medals for the top 3 males and females in each age group.
• Age Groups: USATF age groups will be used up to 70 and over.

After the Race

• Festival: Join us at the festival after the race and experience over 150 craft and food booths.
• Activities: Enjoy a car show, parade, art & photography show, and see the mule-powered mill squeeze juice from the sorghum cane.
• Tasting: Taste Indian Fry Bread with hot sorghum and other delicious Native and local foods at the museum.
• More: Experience over a dozen historic reenactors and artisans on the grounds of the Seminole Nation Museum.

Race URL

• Link: For more details and to register, visit the race page.