World Giraffe Day 5K Run/Walk
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:00 AM CDT
- Location
- Gainesville, TX
- 1000 W California St,, 76240
- Type
- RUN
Sign up and verify details on the organizer’s official page.
At a glance
Run or walk a 5K at Frank Buck Zoo to celebrate World Giraffe Day and support critical giraffe conservation efforts.
- Quirky
- Festive
- For a Cause
Quirky
Festive
For a CauseJoin Frank Buck Zoo and Save Giraffes Now for a special 5K run or walk celebrating World Giraffe Day. This unique event offers participants the choice of a cross-country run or a walk through the zoo before it opens to the public. It's an opportunity to support vital giraffe conservation efforts led by Save Giraffes Now, a non-profit dedicated to protecting these magnificent animals in Africa. Celebrate the longest day of the year while contributing to a meaningful cause.
What to expect
- Choose between a 5K cross-country run or a walk through Frank Buck Zoo before public hours.
- The first 130 in-person participants receive a hand-crafted wooden medal and a race t-shirt.
- Virtual challenge participants also receive a medal.
Standout details
- Walk through the zoo before it opens
- Hand-crafted wooden race medal
- Support giraffe conservation
- Virtual challenge option
Perks & features
- Shirt
ShirtFrom the public listing — confirm on the official site.
Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.
Distances & registration
3 optionsRegistration for all distances is through the official signup link above.
- 5K
Sat, Jun 20, 7:00 AM CDT · From $45.00
Opens Mar 17, 2026, 8:00 PM CDT · Closes Jun 19, 2026, 3:00 PM CDT
World Giraffe Day 5K Walk Through the Zoo
Sat, Jun 20, 7:00 AM CDT · From $45.00
Opens Mar 17, 2026, 8:00 PM CDT · Closes Jun 19, 2026, 3:00 PM CDT
World Giraffe Day Virtual Challenge
Sat, Jun 20, 7:00 AM CDT · From $35.00
Opens Mar 18, 2026, 7:29 AM CDT · Closes Jun 19, 2026, 3:00 PM CDT
Vibe Check
Easygoing
EasygoingMixed surface + rolling terrain
- Rolling area
Partial data — terrain or weather signals missing.
The course
- Mixed
- Rolling
- Timed race
From the organizer
Join Frank Buck Zoo and Save Giraffes Now for the World Giraffe Day 5K on June 20, 2026 at the zoo. Race takes place from 7am to 10am with check-in beginning at 6:30am.
Participants have the option of a 5K cross country run or a walk through the zoo before it is open to the public. A virtual challenge with limited spaces will be available for those unable to make the event in person. The first 130 in-person participants will receive a hand-crafted wooden race medal and race t-shirt. Virtual challenge participants will receive a medal.
Come celebrate the longest day of the year with the longest necks!
Frank Buck Zoo has been dubbed “the best little zoo in Texas” and is home to more than 130 animals, including giraffe! Frank Buck Zoo and SGN have partnered together on this giraffe-saving work since 2022. We are proud to partner together now for the 2025 World Giraffe Day 5K!
Save Giraffes Now (SGN) is a Texas-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is focused on supporting and establishing collaborative community-led giraffe conservation programs in Africa. Since 2019, SGN has become the second-largest NGO devoted to giraffe conservation with currently over thirty giraffe saving projects, one of which is the subject of a National Geographic film released in the fall of 2022 titled Saving Giraffes: The Long Journey Home .
For more information on the World Giraffe Day 5K or to become a sponsor, email amber@savegiraffesnow.org.
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