SAVE THE DATE FOR THE TWELFTH ANNUAL THUMBS UP EVENT
9.20.2025
Orono Park
18599 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330
Register by Sept 1st to be guaranteed a Race T-shirt!
Sign up to Volunteer!
Early Registration & Packet Pickup
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
4:00-7:00 pm: Early T-shirt & Packet Pickup
Location: Lupulin Brewing Company
Address: 570 Humboldt Drive, Suite 107, Big Lake, MN 55309
Pick up your race materials, purchase Thumbs Up merch, & enjoy a BOGO beverage courtesy of Lupulin!
Friday, September 19th, 2025
4:00-7:00 pm: Early T-shirt & Packet Pickup
Location: Orono Park Pavilion
Address: 18599 Gary St., Elk River, MN 55330
Chalk Party! Help us Chalk the Walk with positive messages & remembrance of our loved ones! (chalk provided)
Make a full evening of it and enjoy dinner with Top It food truck!

Directions & Parking
Event Location: Lake Orono Park – 18599 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330
Please plan on parking at the Sherburne County Fairground Parking Lot: 18335 Joplin St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
Parking is free/no-charge
Please try to carpool if you are able!
Saturday, September 20th, 2025
***NEW IN 2024 – ALL PACKET PICKUP & SAME-DAY REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY 8:30 AM ***
7:00 am – 8:30 am: Pre-Registered Packet Pickup & Same-Day Registration
8:00 am – 8:20 am: Yoga on the Beach with Tanya at Azitala Yoga
9:00 am: Opening Ceremony & Keynote Speaker
9:45 am: Stretching by Luke Smith from SNAP Fitness
10:15 am: Races Begin
10:15 am – 5K & 10K Bike
10:20 am – 5K & 10K Run
10:30 am – 5K Walk
11:00 am: Kids Activities, Other Festivities, & Food Trucks
12:00 pm: Remembrance Ceremony
12:30 pm: Kids Kindness Bingo
2:00 pm: End of event

Kids Activities
Obstacle Course (ages 3-12)
Bounce Houses (separate for preschool ages)
Crazy Hair
Face Painting
Kindness Rocks by Plaisted Companies
Mindfulness by Ms. Liz
Balloon Animals by Son-Light Balloon Entertainment
Playground area
Splash Pad (weather dependent)
Skate Park
Kindness Bingo

Food & Beverages
Food Trucks Available On-Site: Batter Up, Mama’s Taco Truck, Adventure Bowls, PJ’s Grill, & D&D Goodies
Complimentary coffee from Dunn Brothers Elk River
Water Stations along the route presented by Elk River Fastpitch, River of Life Church, & Target Corporation

Activities & More Info
Register by Sept. 1st, 2024, to be guaranteed a participant t-shirt with your registration fee
Bring a photo of your loved one for the Memory Tree
Grief Support & Bereavement Memorial Area
Mental Health & Wellness Vendors On-Site
Veteran Memorial Area sponsored by Hannay Electric
Dress for the weather
Friendly dogs are welcome at the event. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Please clean up after your pets.
Kids Obstacle Course
Returning this year – a super fun, themed obstacle course! The obstacle course will start off with a HUGE bounce house, followed by balance beams, tunnels & more!
The Kids Entry Fee (ages 3-12) includes the obstacle course as well as participation in the 5K or 10K run/walk/bike event at no additional charge. There is no fee for children age 2 and under. The run/walk/bike event is not chip timed with registration under the Kids Entry Fee. Kids should register for the standard 5K or 10K event in order to receive a chip time.
Register by September 1st, 2024, to be guaranteed a t-shirt with your registration fee!

Keynote Speaker – TBD!
We are so excited to welcome TBD as the Keynote Speaker for our 11th Annual 5K and 10K Walk/Run/Bike Event!
Keynote Speaker Bio – TBD


The Annual Thumbs Up 5K & 10K route sponsored by First Bank Elk River takes place in charming Elk River, Minnesota. The paved road course offers a 3.1 mile (5K) and a 6.2 mile (10K) run, walk, or bike race. Take in the beauty of the William H. Houlton Conservation area, the Lake Orono Dam, and breathtaking views along Lake Orono.