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Best Memorial Day Walks, Runs And Parades In Sacramento

By Valerie Heimerich

Memorial Day is on May 28 in 2018, and the Sacramento region celebrates the holiday with a number of races in honor of veterans. Serious runners can compete for awards while more casual celebrants can enjoy fun runs and other outdoor activities.

Wounded Veteran Run
Vista Del Lago High School
1970 Broadstone Parkway
Folsom, CA 95630
www.woundedveteranrun.org

Date: May 28, 2018 at 8 a.m

This annual Memorial Day event includes a fun run for kids as well as 3K, 5K and 10K races for adults, all put on by the nonprofit Wounded Veteran Run. WVR was founded by a Folsom personal trainer after her brother sustained severe injuries in Afghanistan; her experiences with other wounded service members and their families at Walter Reed Hospital inspired her to help even more. Since being formed in 2011, the nonprofit has donated more than $330,000 to local organizations that offer services to veterans. Beneficiaries of the 2018 Run include a program which helps local veterans who are attending college and Patriots Honor, a wide-ranging peer-founded 501c3 organization dedicated to improving the lives of injured vets. Fregoso Outdoor Foundation will benefit from the Wounded Vet Run event, as will the Semper Fi Fund/America's Fund; the latter provides lifetime support and immediate financial assistance to wounded and critically ill veterans and their families.

No Excuses 5K
Village Green at William Land Park
Corner of Freeport Boulevard. and Sutterville Road
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 492-8966
www.noexcuses5k.com

Date: May 28, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

Entrants to this Memorial Day can be children, adults or dogs; the No Excuses 5K is a benefit for Canine Companions for Independence. Through its Veterans Initiative, the nonprofit provides free, highly-trained support dogs to disabled veterans. The event starts with two special fun runs for kids, a quarter-mile and a half-mile, with all participants receiving medals. Runners of all ages can compete in the 5K or a one-mile dog leg; prizes will be awarded for overall male or female winners as well as for the top three in each age division. For those running with a faithful canine, the divisions are based on the dog's weight and size. All the races take place throughout beautiful, iconic William Land Park, and are followed by an awards ceremony, music, an after-race beer garden and more.

Related: Best Outdoor Gear Stores In Sacramento

Red White and Blue FUN RUN
Orangevale Community Park
7301 Filbert Ave.
Orangevale, CA 95662
(916) 253-7357
www.womenveteransalliance.org

Date: May 19, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This inaugural celebration takes place one week before the Memorial Day weekend, with a 5K fun run beginning in Orangevale Community Park. Proceeds from the event will benefit Women Veterans Giving, a nonprofit partner of Women Veterans Alliance. The organization helps female vets open or expand businesses, get professional training and more. In addition to the race, Red White and Blue will have food trucks, music, exhibitors, vendor, a special kids area and more.

Memorial Day Car Show, Featuring Vettes & Vets
C
alifornia Automobile Museum
2200 Front St.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 442-6802
www.calautomuseum.org

Date: May 28, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While there are local parades, runs and walks on the holiday, California Automobile Museum offers a Memorial Day event for those who like to drive. The annual car show, named in celebration of veterans and Corvettes, includes a military color guard, music and a national anthem performance. Car show entrants will be judged in various categories, including the best veteran-owned vehicle and a new competition for cars worked on by children. The event also includes food and shopping and entry to the museum is free for retired and active duty veterans and their families.

Related: Ask A Sacramento Expert: Keeping Your Kids Entertained On A Day Off From School

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