Local fun runs, charity walks and fitness events coming up across Birmingham

Birmingham residents have several fun runs and charity walks lined up through July and August, beginning with a 5-kilometre event at Cannon Hill Park on July 18.

Longer daylight hours and school holidays draw more people outdoors for organised group exercise, and local organisers report steady sign-ups since the start of the month. These events fill gaps left by indoor gym closures during peak summer heat and give participants routes that stay within city limits rather than requiring travel elsewhere.

Events in Cannon Hill Park and along the canals

The July 18 run starts at 9 a.m. from the main car park on Russell Road and loops twice around the park's lake before finishing near the bandstand. A separate charity walk organised by the Birmingham Canal Network takes place on July 26, departing from Brindleyplace at 10 a.m. and covering six kilometres along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal towpath to Edgbaston. Both events accept on-site registration for those who miss the online deadline.

Another route on August 9 begins at the Harborne Walkway entrance on Harborne Road and ends at Lightwoods Park, with marshals stationed at each junction to keep groups together. Organisers from the same network also added a shorter option for families that finishes at the café in the park after two kilometres.

Entry costs and participation numbers

Entry for the Cannon Hill Park run costs £12 for adults and £6 for under-16s, with all proceeds directed to a local mental-health charity. Last summer's comparable events across the city recorded 1,450 total participants, according to registration data released by Birmingham City Council in September 2025. This year organisers expect similar turnout and have capped each event at 500 to manage path capacity.

Participants can register through the council's active travel page or at the venue on the day if spaces remain. Those new to group exercise should arrive 30 minutes early for a short safety briefing and to collect numbered bibs. Maps and water stations are provided at the start of every listed route.