Michigan State University students gather in downtown East Lansing, Mich., for the Ginger Run on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
Gingers and redheads alike gathered in downtown East Lansing on March 14 to participate in the fourth annual Running of the Gingers. The student-led event has become a staple during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, with the goal of honoring Irish culture, redhead identity and community spirit.
"We have so many traditions at MSU, but this is different from any other tradition we have," communication leadership and strategy senior Morgen Leflar said. "Everything is surrounded by the university, or a specific sports team or for a cause. This is just for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s for the gingers. Got to give us a little love sometimes."
This race took place in the alley directly next to El Azteco and had the runners stopping in the middle of Albert Avenue. They celebrated by waving the Irish flag and jumping around in the street, causing a slight traffic jam.
"This year might have been my best experience because I was the first girl to cross that finish line, so I’m taking that as I basically won the entire race," Leflar said.
For onlookers, the view of the runners were extremely limited due to the amount of attendees. Students climbed up trees or stood on top of the fireplace right next to the alley in order to try to get a glimpse of the race. Regardless of the low visibility, many students said they were extremely happy to be able to be a small part of this growing tradition.
"It’s such a fun way to celebrate a holiday with such a unique idea behind it, because, I mean, what scenario do you see people running a race because of their hair color?" computer science junior Marisa Kelly said.
Beyond the novelty of the race, many students said that it creates a larger sense of community among participants and attendees. Reminding them to slow down and enjoy the hilarious small moments of their undergraduate years.
"It’s something I haven’t experienced before, and I feel like it just reminds us of our community," economics junior Alivea Wolcott said. "It reminds me that this is one of the only times in my life when I’ll be surrounded with this many people my age."
The Ginger Run did not originate from MSU; rather, it has no defined place of origin, although MSU was among the first universities to establish this race. The University of Notre Dame and Boston College host similar events, which led to videos of redheads running going entirely viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Since then, many colleges have followed suit and created their own versions of the Ginger Run.
Many students expressed their interests in attending next year's race because of how social media has shaped this as a can't-miss event.
"I would 100% like to come back next year, I feel like this will be so fun, and I love seeing the clips on TikTok," Wolcott said. "It’s such a huge part of the day."
