Chile Pepper Weekend Fires Up Fayetteville
October in Northwest Arkansas means one thing for runners: it’s time to prove what you’re made of.
You are about to see Fayetteville’s cross-country course become the stage for championship racing. The University of Arkansas hosts hundreds of teams and individual runners in a weekend of fierce competition that will test even the best athletes in America.
Mark your calendar now, because you won’t want to miss this.
THE DEETS
📍 University of Arkansas Cross Country Course, Fayetteville
📅 Friday, October 3 & Saturday, October 4, 2025
💲 Check registration details
🔗 More info
The 37th Annual Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival is one of the premier running events in America, drawing over 80 college teams and 120 high school teams to compete for coveted Chile Pepper awards. Individual runners can register too . If you are not associated with a school, you certainly still run and join the fun.
The festival combines three Northwest Arkansas cross-country races into a single weekend, creating one of the most competitive events on the national circuit.
The weekend starts Friday night with the Tom Lewis 1 Mile Pepper Dash at 6:00 PM, giving young runners their shot at Chile Pepper glory. Saturday morning opens with the Godpepper 4K and 8K community races at 7:30 AM, welcoming around 500 participants who want to race alongside elite athletes. Everyone has a place at the starting line, from competitive athletes to curious newcomers.
Join the race and run for a cause. Race proceeds support public high school cross-country programs across Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison counties. Non-runners can still be part of the experience by registering as a VIP. VIP non-runners receive a t-shirt, swag bag, premium onsite parking, access to a VIP tent with prime viewing, drinks, snacks, and yes, even VIP porta potties. Can’t make it in person? Catch all the action through the live webcast provided by HOKA.
Lace up your running shoes and join the action this October.
