Alachua County Hosts Veterans Day Breakfast and 5K

The county's free veterans breakfast and inaugural 5K drew participants to Veterans Memorial Park on November 11.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Civic

Plain flags on tall poles line an empty paved park path under live oak trees at dawn, with dew on the grass and a brick building in the distance. — Alachua County held its free veterans breakfast and inaugural 5K at Veterans Memorial Park in Gainesville on November 11, with about 100 runners registered. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Alachua County held its Veterans Day event on November 11, featuring a free veterans breakfast and the inaugural 5K run at Veterans Memorial Park. About 100 people registered for the race, and the event has drawn 800 to 1,000 attendees in recent years.

Why it matters

The event gives the local community a organized way to honor veterans, and organizers say a 5K could help raise attendance. The committee hopes the new race will push attendance toward 2,000 people.

Organizers reported about 100 registrants for the inaugural 5K, with the winning time recorded at 20 minutes and 21 seconds by Colin Miller. Final participation numbers and whether the 2,000-attendee target was met were not reported.

The players

Alachua County Veterans Memorial Committee

The committee partnered with Alachua County Veterans Service to plan and host the 5K and the broader Veterans Day event.

Gainesville Sunrise Rotary Club

The Gainesville service club donated funds for the veterans breakfast, which was catered by The Bagel Bakery.

The details

The veterans breakfast began at 7 a.m., organized by the Gainesville Sunrise Rotary Club and catered by The Bagel Bakery. The 5K started at 8:30 a.m., with Colin Miller, a University of Florida Army ROTC cadet, finishing first and Chaplain Justin Maynard placing second; the formal presentation began at 11 a.m. under the theme "The Strength Behind the Service."

Over the past few years: the event drew 800 to 1,000 people annually.
November 11, 2026: Veterans Day breakfast, 5K, and presentation held at Veterans Memorial Park.
7 a.m.: free veterans breakfast began.
8:30 a.m.: inaugural 5K run began.
11 a.m.: formal presentation began.

Civic Tradition

Alachua County has hosted its Veterans Day event for at least 30 years, and the new 5K extends that long-running observance into a participatory race format. The addition reflects the committee's goal of growing attendance beyond the 800 to 1,000 people the event has typically drawn.

Residents who want to attend future Veterans Day events can expect a free breakfast and presentation at Veterans Memorial Park. The new 5K gives runners a direct way to take part in the county's observance.

The takeaway

Community events like this one rely on partnerships between local service groups and county veterans offices to sustain attendance. Residents who want to honor veterans can watch for similar gatherings organized through local civic and service organizations.