Foley Rotary Oyster Run Turns 33 With Record Signups, Downtown 5K and Oyster After-Party Nov. 14

FOLEY, Ala. — The Foley Rotary Oyster Run is back for a 33rd year, and organizers say the downtown Foley 5K is on pace to be its biggest yet. The race is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Orange Blossom Square, with registration already ahead of past years in both runners and sponsors.

The event pairs a morning run or walk through the heart of Foley with an after-party built around raw oysters, cold beer and raffles. Every dollar raised goes back into the community through the Foley Rotary Club, which uses the race as one of its most important annual fundraisers for charities serving Baldwin County.

Race day at a glance

• What: 33rd Annual Foley Rotary Oyster Run
• When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026; 5K events run from 8 to 11 a.m., and the One Mile Fun Run from 9 to 11 a.m.
• Where: Orange Blossom Square, 121 W. Orange St., downtown Foley
• Events: 5K run, 5K walk, 5K wheelchair division and a One Mile Fun Run
• Cost: $35 for the 5K run, walk or wheelchair events; $25 for the One Mile Fun Run. Prices increase after Nov. 11.
• Registration: Online through RunSignup
• Contact: [email protected]

A race for every pace

The Oyster Run has long welcomed participants of every experience level, from competitive runners chasing a personal record to families out for a stroll. In addition to the traditional 5K run, the race offers a 5K walk and a 5K wheelchair division, making it one of the more inclusive road races on the local calendar.

Younger runners and anyone not ready for 3.1 miles can sign up for the One Mile Fun Run, which begins later in the morning window and costs $25.

The 5K course follows paved roads through downtown Foley. Runners who have reviewed the race online describe it as very flat and well suited for setting a personal best, and they have praised the parking and organization for an event of its size. Mid-November weather in Foley has generally been comfortable for running; on the race’s traditional mid-November weekend over the past five years, daytime highs have ranged from the low 60s to the mid-70s.

Participants receive an Oyster Run T-shirt while supplies last. Shirts are handed out in order of registration, which gives runners one more reason to sign up early. The registration fee also goes up after Nov. 11.

Burgers, oysters and an after-party

One popular draw comes from just down the street. Every runner who finishes will receive sides from Cheeseburger Randy’s, the downtown Foley patio burger bar on South Alston Street known for its smash burgers, fries and onion rings. Organizers count the perk among several reasons participants keep returning year after year.

The celebration does not end at the finish line. Runners, walkers and supporters are invited to stick around downtown for the after-party, which features fresh oysters, cold beer and raffles. In past years the post-race spread has also included gumbo, giving the event its signature Gulf Coast flavor and a chance for neighbors to swap race stories over a dozen on the half shell.

The timing fits the season. Cooler months are traditionally prime time for oysters along the Gulf Coast, and the race’s name makes clear that the shellfish are the guest of honor at the finish.

Where the money goes

Proceeds from the Oyster Run support local charities chosen by the Foley Rotary Club. The race’s beneficiaries include:

• Alabama Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch: The Baldwin County branch of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch system sits in Summerdale and provides a home for boys who need a stable place to live. Residents live in cottages with house parents and help with chores, woodworking and cattle care. The youth ranch system is marking roughly 60 years of service in 2026.
• Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation: Founded in 1998 by Frances and Neil Holk-Jones in memory of their 16-year-old daughter, the Baldwin County foundation runs a Peer Helper Program that trains students to serve as mentors, tutors and advocates for classmates who are struggling emotionally, academically or socially. The program has been placed in public schools throughout Baldwin County.
• Ecumenical Ministries: Based on West Spruce Avenue in Foley, the agency operates a food pantry and serves as a Meals on Wheels distribution point for Foley, Elberta, Lillian, Magnolia Springs and Bon Secour.
• South Baldwin Literacy Council: The Foley-based council is one of the few literacy councils in the country that serves both adults and young people. It offers free adult basic education, GED preparation, English as a second language classes and workplace skills training, along with in-school, after-school and summer tutoring in reading and math for children.
• Other local charities: The club also directs race proceeds to additional groups doing work throughout Baldwin County.

Those who cannot run can still help. The RunSignup race page accepts donations, and organizers welcome business sponsors, whose numbers have already grown compared with past years.

About the Foley Rotary Club

The Foley Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, the worldwide service organization founded in Chicago in 1905. Rotary clubs bring together business and community leaders who volunteer their time and raise money for local and international causes under the motto “Service Above Self.”

In Foley, the club’s members organize projects and fundraisers aimed at improving life in south Baldwin County. The Oyster Run, now in its fourth decade, is among its signature efforts, and the club has steadily built it into a fall tradition that blends fitness, food and philanthropy.

A downtown on the rise

The race’s home base, Orange Blossom Square on West Orange Street, sits in the center of Foley’s historic downtown, an area that has seen new restaurants, shops and events take root in recent years. Cheeseburger Randy’s, which opened in a historic building on South Alston Street, is one example of the businesses that have helped bring new energy to the district.

Foley itself grew up around the railroad in the early 20th century and is named for John B. Foley, the Chicago businessman who helped bring rail service to the area. Today it is one of the fastest-growing cities in Baldwin County, and downtown events like the Oyster Run give residents and visitors a chance to see the historic core on foot.

Tips for race day

• Register early to lock in the $35 or $25 rate before prices rise after Nov. 11 and to improve your chances of getting a race shirt.
• Plan to arrive early to park and pick up your race materials before the 8 a.m. window opens.
• Dress in layers. Mid-November mornings in south Baldwin County can start cool and warm up quickly.
• Bring an appetite and some cash or a card for raffles at the after-party.
• Check the race’s RunSignup page and Facebook event for course details, results and photos.

Questions about the 33rd Annual Foley Rotary Oyster Run can be sent to the race committee at [email protected].