Saturday, May 2*
The Jacksonville Historical Society’s Great Fire Run of 2020 is a 5K and 1 Mile race that commemorates Jacksonville’s Great Fire, which occurred May 3, 1901 when a spark from a kitchen fire ignited piles of drying Spanish moss at a nearby mattress factory. The race will follow the outline of the Great Fire boundary, which began at Davis and Beaver Streets, spread to most of Downtown Jacksonville, and was halted by Hogan’s Creek, thus sparing Old St. Luke’s Hospital, which now houses the Jacksonville Historical Society.
Now it’s time to light a fire under your feet. The Great Fire Run begins and ends at Old St. Andrew’s Church, across from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The 5K will start at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 1 Mile Run at 9:30 a.m. There will also be a display of vintage fire trucks and other family-friendly activities at the event.
Old St. Andrew’s Church, 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. Jacksonville Historical Society, 665-0064.
*Event is subject to cancellation or change due to the Covid19 quarantine implemented in March. Please check with the individual organizations.
