SAN FRANCISCO — Diplo's Run Club returns to Golden Gate Park Sunday, Oct. 18, combining a morning 5K with a post-race concert at Robin Williams Meadow.
The organizer says more than 12,000 people took part in the previous San Francisco edition and currently describes the 2026 event as 90% sold out, making transportation and packet-pickup planning especially important before race morning.
What time does Diplo's Run Club start?
The 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. at Robin Williams Meadow, with the venue entrance at JFK Promenade and Kezar Drive.
VIP packet pickup begins at 7 a.m. Sunday. The main festival opens at 8:30 a.m., Jax Jones is currently scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and Diplo for 10:30 a.m.
The organizer says the course starts and finishes at Robin Williams Meadow and passes several Golden Gate Park landmarks. It also warns that the course remains subject to change, so the final course map should be rechecked before race day.
When and where is packet pickup?
Regular packet pickup is Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Sports Basement Presidio, 610 Old Mason Street.
Most runners must pick up their bib and event shirt Saturday. The exceptions listed by the organizer are VIP participants and runners who bought the bib-by-mail option.
Runners should bring identification and a screenshot of their registration confirmation. Someone else may collect the packet on a runner's behalf if they have that registration screenshot.
Can you park at Robin Williams Meadow?
No event parking will be available at Robin Williams Meadow on race day, according to the current organizer guidance. Parking and stopping along Kezar Drive are also prohibited.
The organizer strongly recommends public transportation, rideshare or carpooling. Its designated rideshare drop-off is McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street.
That makes arriving by transit considerably more predictable than planning to hunt for a parking space close to the start line.
What can runners bring into the festival?
The organizer permits small bags up to 6 by 8 by 3 inches without requiring them to be clear. Clear bags or backpacks may be up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, and empty hydration packs of no more than 2.5 liters are permitted. Towels, blankets and sheets for sitting are also listed as allowed.
Mobile lockers are being offered for participants who want somewhere to store belongings.
Can you attend the concert without running?
The organizer's current San Francisco information clearly establishes that race registration includes the festival and concert and that volunteers receive concert/festival entry after completing their shifts. It does not currently advertise general concert-only admission.
Anyone interested only in the concert should therefore check the organizer before assuming a non-runner ticket will be available.
What should runners check again before Oct. 18?
Two things deserve a final check: the course map, which the organizer says can change, and any event-specific Golden Gate Park or Muni transportation advisory issued closer to race day.
The fixed details already worth planning around are Saturday packet pickup, an 8:30 a.m. race start and the absence of event parking at Robin Williams Meadow.