April 24th 2027
Freedom Park Eden, NC

Community day & 5K

A day where our entire community comes together to celebrate inclusion, raise awareness, and support local autism families.

About the Event

Acts 4 Autism Community Day & 5K is our signature annual fundraiser and community celebration. Designed for individuals of all abilities, this family-friendly event brings together local businesses, community organizations, and families for a day filled with fun, education, and connection.

Every registration, sponsorship, and donation directly supports Acts 4 Autism's mission to provide programs, resources, and inclusive opportunities for individuals with autism and their families throughout Rockingham County.

Children playing with large building blocks outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background.

why it matters

Community Day is about more than crossing a finish line.

It's about building a community where individuals with autism are seen, valued, and included. Every person who attends helps raise awareness, supports local families, and creates opportunities for meaningful connections that extend far beyond a single day.

By bringing families, businesses, organizations, and community members together, we're creating a place where understanding grows, friendships are formed, and everyone has a chance to be part of something bigger. Together, we're building a more inclusive community—one that continues to make a difference long after the event is over.

Two smiling young adults, one female and one male, wearing light blue T-shirts with 'Acts for Autism' and event details, standing outdoors at a community event, with green trees and other participants in the background.

event Highlights

🏃 Timed 5K & Fun Run

🎈 Kids Activities

🫧 Sensory-Friendly Spaces

🤝 Community Resource Fair

🍔 Food Trucks & Vendors

🎶 Live Entertainment

🎨 Family Activities

🏅 Awards & Giveaways

Outdoor market with multiple vendor tents set up on a grassy field, people shopping and browsing, tall trees in the background, and a bright, clear sky.

Looking back at 2026

Our inaugural Acts 4 Autism Community Day & 5K exceeded every expectation. Families, businesses, volunteers, runners, and community partners came together with one shared purpose—to create a more inclusive and supportive community for individuals with autism.

From the starting line of the 5K to the final conversations at Community Day, the impact extended far beyond the event itself. New friendships were formed, families discovered valuable resources, businesses showed their support, and our community took another step toward greater understanding and inclusion.

Four individuals standing on an outdoor stage after a race, wearing medals and numbered bibs, with playground equipment and trees in the background.
A young girl with face paint of a unicorn, wearing a colorful t-shirt with cartoon characters, standing among colorful sandbox bins at an outdoor event or fair. She is smiling and looking to her left.
A young girl with face paint of a unicorn, wearing a colorful t-shirt with cartoon characters, standing among colorful sandbox bins at an outdoor event or fair. She is smiling and looking to her left.

Save the Date

April 24th, 2027

Planning is already underway, and we can't wait to welcome our community back for another incredible day of connection, inclusion, and fun.

We're already dreaming bigger for next year with more activities, more community partners, more opportunities to connect, and even more ways to celebrate individuals with autism and their families. Whether you're joining us as a participant, volunteer, vendor, sponsor, or supporter, we'd love for you to be part of what we're building.

Mark your calendars now—we'll see you next spring!

2026 by the numbers

🏃 89 5K Participants

🤝 8 Autism Resource Partners

🛍️ 24 Local Vendors

🍔 5 Food & Beverage Vendors

🙋 50+ Volunteers

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hundreds Community Members in Attendance

💙 1 Community United for Inclusion

Group of young volunteers at an outdoor event, decorating a large white board with colorful handprints and numbers. They are wearing orange volunteer shirts and are surrounded by tables with art supplies.

Thank you to our sponsors & Partners

Celebratory graphic with balloons, colorful confetti, and bold text reading 'Carolina Balloons & Confetti'.
A circular graphic with a black background, featuring the words "PARKER bleached" written in bold pink and black letters with a white outline. The background within the circle has pink, gold, white, and black paint splatters and a checkered pattern.
Gildan logo with blue geometric icon and the word GILDAN in blue capital letters.
Logo for Eden Lawn Mower featuring red and black text, green grass icons, and the tagline 'Sales & Service you can count on since 1967'.
Logo for Lawson's Tree Service, Inc., with a green and orange tree graphic, and text saying 'We don't monkey around' with phone number 336-548-2549.
A logo with gold, black, and white text reading "Seth M. Woodall & Associates".
Neon sign with the text 'Gelsmas Plumbing' and a slogan 'Providing, with your local plumbers'.
Signs and Trophies Acts 4 Autism
A circular logo with the words "Crossfit Echo" and "EST. 2023" inside, featuring a tree at the bottom and the year "1927" at the outer edge.
Graphic design with the shape of Virginia in green, and the text 'County Line Rents & Events' in white and green, advertising inflatables, bounce houses, slides, and party rentals.
Logo for Children's Specialized ABA Center for Autism, partnered with RW Barnabas Health, featuring three children, one on wheelchair, holding hands.
Sticker with stylized text reading 'Tattoo Shop' in bold black and white with yellow chain design.
MMM Media logo with bold white letters on an orange background, featuring a horizontal white line separating the initials from the word 'MEDIA' below.
Logo of Dalton's Plumbing Inc. with phone number 336-202-2125 in yellow and blue colors.
Logo of HomeTrust Bank featuring a stylized house and the bank's name in blue text.
Logo with bold green and white text reading 'WLC Forklift Services' and a wrench crossing through the words.
RP3 Media logo with a yellow camera icon and white and yellow text on a black background
Logo featuring a sunny orange sun with rays, a robotic arm holding a solar panel, and text emphasizing renewable solar power.
Wright Printing logo with the company name in red and gray text on a white background
Red apple with a green leaf and a brown stem, with text reading 'Tied Tachers Boutique'.
Logo with the text 'ALL ABOUT INSURANCE' in white on a red background, and a large blue 'A' with a red underline.
Illustration of two dogs, a golden retriever and a black and white spaniel, with text '2 Dogs Deli' and 'Eden NC'.
A woman smiling while running outdoors during a community event in the daytime. She is wearing a blue shirt with event text, a brown waist pack, and has a clipboard or event pamphlet in her hand. Background includes vehicles and a loosely focused outdoor setting.

Our inaugural Community Day & 5K was just the beginning. As we look toward next year's event, we're excited to welcome even more families, community partners, sponsors, and volunteers as we continue growing this tradition. Together, we're building an event that celebrates inclusion, strengthens our community, and creates lasting impact for individuals with autism and their families.

looking ahead

Every dollar raised through Community Day & 5K helps Acts 4 Autism continue providing free Family Connect events, sensory-friendly experiences, community outreach, and resources for local families while moving us closer to our vision of a permanent autism resource hub in Rockingham County.

The Impact of Your Support

  • "This event was truly amazing. It brought tears of joy to mine and my wife’s eyes. We smiled a lot. We felt like we had so much support from each and every person we talked to."

    -Parent & Community Day Attendee

  • "Events like this really help us because we get to connect with so many people who are so supportive and understanding and my son gets to feel included and free to be himself."

    -Parent & Community Day Attendee

  • "My son was diagnosed and it’s been a journey getting resources, information and therapies. As we’re adjusting, the world is still judging and you’re still just trying to do your best. These events make you feel seen, included and loved for who you are."

    -Parent & Community Day Attendee