Charitable ‘Run of the Dead’ is a tribute to life and legacy

The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) will host the 15th annual Run of the Dead, on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to noon at George S. Patton Park Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere St., in Southwest Detroit.

The annual event honors Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a cherished Mexican holiday that pays tribute to the lives of loved ones who have passed, while raising funds for the Center of Music & Performing Arts Southwest (COMPÁS).

“The Run of the Dead has become a powerful Southwest Detroit tradition that honors both life and legacy,” said Brandi Watts, Vice President of Programs & Compliance at the Southwest Detroit Business Association.

“The event encourages us to remember loved ones, celebrate our community’s cultural roots, and promote health, wellness, and togetherness through physical activity. It’s a day that nourishes both body and soul, celebrating the spirit, resilience, and pride that make Southwest Detroit so special.”

Race details and cultural celebration

The race features USATF-certified 5K and 10K courses that wind through two historic Detroit cemeteries, Holy Cross and Woodmere.

It offers participants a rare blend of competition and reflection as they run past tree-lined paths, historic markers, and memorials celebrating generations of Detroit families.

The event will award medals for both 5K and 10K categories, including first and second place finishers and overall male and female winners.

The day offers opportunities to engage with the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos.

Wear your ‘Day of the Dead’ attire

Participants can visit a community-created ofrenda (altar), honoring ancestors with photos and offerings. They also will enjoy light bites and drinks, entertainment by the COMPÁS band, warm up activities, and items for purchase from local vendors. Attendees are encouraged to wear traditional Day of the Dead face paint, flowers, and attire to honor the spirit of the celebration.

Halloween and other non-traditional costumes are discouraged.

Registration Details:
 General registration open September 2–November 1: 5K is $55 and 10K is $60;
 Event-day registration: $75 (5K or 10K).

Pre-registered participants will receive a race T-shirt, bib, and swag bag with their entry. High school students can register for free using code HS100 (school ID required), and first responders receive 50% off with code FR50 (badge required).

To register or learn more about the event, click here.

COMPÁS is a cornerstone program of the SDBA dedicated to inspiring creativity, cultural pride, and community engagement through the arts. Offering high-quality instruction in music, dance, and theater, COMPÁS empowers youth to explore their talents while preserving and celebrating the Latinx heritage that defines Southwest Detroit.

The program also provides performance opportunities that connect generations and foster understanding through shared artistic expression.

Historical Figures of Holy Cross and Woodmere cemeteries

Holy Cross Cemetery, established near 1850, and Woodmere Cemetery, established in 1867, are resting places for many notable Detroiters.

Holy Cross Cemetery, once part of Springwells Township, holds the stories of Detroit’s immigrant families and early settlers. Nearly half of the gravestones bear Polish names, and those interred include John Kronk, the well-known city councilman; Fr. Joseph Dustin, the banjo-playing priest; and Civil War soldier Theopolis Girard.

The cemetery also served as a filming location for the 1987 movie The Rosary Murders starring Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning.

At Woodmere Cemetery, visitors can find the graves of James E. Scripps, founder of The Evening News (later The Detroit News); Governor John J. Bagley, a tobacco baron and civic leader; David Whitney, the lumber magnate whose home is now The Whitney Restaurant; and David D. Buick, founder of Buick Motor Company.

The cemetery’s 207 landscaped acres are home to wildlife, a pond fed by underground Baby Creek, and the final resting place of individuals such as David Vartanian, a Titanic survivor, and Henry M. Leland, inventor of the electric hair clippers.

For more information about the SDBA, COMPÁS and the 2025 Run of the Dead, click here.
www.southwestdetroit.com