Walk in the footsteps of history, then dance in celebration of a civil rights hero who shaped American culture. An afternoon of community, commemoration, and joy!

The inaugural JWJ BDAY 5K & Block Party presented by VyStar and 1st
Place Sports celebrates the 154th anniversary of James Weldon Johnson’s birth.
Runners and walkers of all ages will begin at James Weldon Johnson Park and travel
through the LaVilla neighborhood where the Johnson family lived, with historical
information about his life along the route. The race finishes back at the Park with
a Block Party featuring various food trucks, games, cake and champagne, and DJ NICKFRESH to
set the festive mood. All proceeds from this event benefit Friends of James Weldon
Johnson Park, the City’s nonprofit partner that manages Jacksonville’s oldest and
most historic park.
The run will start and finish at James Weldon Johnson Park, located at 135 West
Monroe Street, Jacksonville, Florida. Check in will begin promptly at 5:30pm with a 1 mile Fun Run and the 5K run will begin at 6:00pm sharp on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Interested participants can register at tinyurl.com/JWJBDay5k