LifeSouth Community Blood Centers will fire the starting gun on Saturday for its 17th annual 5K and Party in the Plaza.
The event will be at Bo Diddley Plaza at 9 a.m. and includes a one-mile fun run. The course will take runners throughout downtown Gainesville, with medals, t-shirts, Chick-fil-A refreshments, live music and more at the finishing line.
Awards will also be given to the three fastest male and female runners, top age-category runners, the fastest team and largest team.
LifeSouth hosts the Party in the Plaza to raise awareness for blood donations. The organization supplies UF Health Shands, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center.
Online registration closes Wednesday at midnight. But participants can still show up Saturday morning and register.