One of Blossomtime’s enduring traditions is back again this year—offering a chance to be part of the action, even while the crowds are beginning to line the streets.
The Blossomtime Festival will host the 44th annual “Run for the Buds” 5K on Saturday, May 9, the same day as the Grand Floral Parade. Runners and walkers will take to the same streets that will later be packed with parade spectators and marching bands.
The chip-timed 5K follows an out-and-back course along Main Street in Benton Harbor, starting and finishing in St. Joseph—essentially tracing in reverse part of the Grand Floral Parade route.
For participants and families, it makes for an easy way to turn the day into a full Blossomtime experience: run (or walk) in the morning, then stick around as the community shifts gears into parade mode an hour later.
Race day details are straightforward. Registration is $45, with packet pickup available the evening before at Silver Harbor Brewing Company in St. Joseph, and again the morning of the race starting at 8:30 a.m. The run itself follows shortly after, with an awards ceremony planned for around 11:30 a.m.
Free parking will be available at the Berrien County Courthouse.
Beyond the fitness aspect, the event also supports a longstanding Blossomtime mission. A portion of proceeds goes toward the Blossomtime Festival Scholarship Fund, which helps local students pursue further education.
While the Grand Floral Parade remains the headline event of the day, “Run for the Buds carves out its own place—especially for those who prefer to be in the action rather than just watching from the curb.
