About the Firecracker 5k

The Hilton Head Firecracker 5K, which was founded in 1985, has earned its title as the oldest road race in Beaufort county and largest 5K in the state of South Carolina! The race has been a Fourth of July tradition for families on Hilton Head Island for many years and draws runners from all over the United States, and even other countries! The 2022 event alone had runners from 35 different US states and even hosted travelers from Canada and the UK.

Our family-friendly run has had almost 100,000 participants since its inception with over 2,000 runners and walkers joining in on the fun each year. Many consider the Firecracker 5K the perfect way to kick off Independence Day on the island, so it’s no surprise that the Fourth of July is now the second most popular holiday among runners, according to Running USA. The 2023 event will be the 36th year running!