The 24th Annual NAACP George V. Tankard Jr. Memorial 5K road race/walk will place on Saturday, Sept. 19 — with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 20.
The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with a 1-mile Fun Run for kids 12 and under, starting from the Summercamp Hotel, just across from the Oak Bluffs harbor.
At 9:30 a.m., the 5K begins in scenic Ocean Park.
In-person registration will be available at Summercamp on Friday, Sept. 18, from 5 to 6 p.m., and again on race morning from 8 to 9 a.m. Entry fees are $10 for the Fun Run and $20 for the 5K if registered in advance ($25 on race day). Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female finishers, with medals presented to winners in various age categories. A special award will honor the oldest road race finisher over the age of 80, in memory of Abe Weintraub, who began running at age 80 and competed in countless races—including this one—until his retirement from racing at 98.
This event supports the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP, founded in 1963—the Island’s oldest civil rights organization. Proceeds go directly to the NAACP Scholarship Fund, awarded to Martha’s Vineyard high school seniors who embody the spirit of civil rights, leadership, and good citizenship.
This article appears in September 11, 2026.