Where is the Night Owl? The Night Owl is held at Panola Mountain State Park, just east of I-285. Checkin is at the Alexander Lake Pavilion at 4963 Flat Bridge Road Stockbridge, GA US 30281. Note - do not map to "Panola Mountain State Park" - that will take you to park HQ, but the race is on the other side of the park.

When is the Night Owl? The scheduled start time is 6pm sharp and checkin will open at 4pm. Please arrive no later than 5:30pm to give yourself time to park, check in, and make your way to the starting line. Note that there is a bit of a walk from the parking to the checkin pavilion and on to the starting line, so don't be late!

How do I park for the Night Owl? There are a couple parking lots near the pavilion. Please proceed to the address above and volunteers will direct you. Note that Panola Mountain is a Georgia State Park! Please bring $10 cash or a Georgia State Parks parking pass.

What is the Night Owl course like? It's 5 kilometers long (surprise)! It starts just down the hill from the Alexander Lake Pavilion and proceeds across the lake boardwalk, through the historic barn, turns left and heads to the South River, turns around and heads back past the barn, and then finishes back at the start. It's mostly shaded and quite scenic, but it is hilly, so be prepared for some challenging climbs and descents. Here's a course map (note that the "double-back" portion extends to the South River to make the total length come out to 5km.)

What are the Night Owl t-shirts like? For years, the Night Owl t-shirt has been designed by AWARE volunteer Gary Book and screenprinted on a super-soft NextLevel 6210 t-shirt. I think you'll like it!

Are there medals at the Night Owl? We have first-, second-, and third-place medals in 11 age groups for male and female participants as well as first, second, and third for non-binary participants.

What ambassador animals will be at the Night Owl? Most of your favorite rescued AWARE ambassadors will be there! The exact list is subject to change, but we expect to have owls, hawks, snakes, turtles, opossums, and more.

Are dogs allowed at the Night Owl? Yes, dogs are welcome. We even usually have medals for top-three canine finishers! We ask that dogs 1) remain on leash at all times; 2) be kept a safe distance from ambassador wild animals; and 3) have owners alert to instructions from ambassador handlers if they need to move further away.

Do children need to register separately? Young children may accompany a registered parent/guardian free of charge without registering, but they won't receive a race shirt or be eligible for a medal unless they are registered.

What if it rains? The Night Owl is a rain-or-shine event. If lightning or dangerous weather comes, we will hold the event and wait for it to pass if possible, but if it's not feasibly to get the race in safely and get everyone out by dark, we will have to cancel. Participants will be able to get their shirts and will be invited to complete 5K at home and send us pictures.

What if I still have questions? Email us at events@awarewildlife.org and we'll be happy to answer. Thanks!