In 1996 — the same year the Olympic flame passed through Georgia — Smyrna lit one of its own.
It wasn’t a global spectacle. It was a local commitment.
A group of elected officials, the Campbell High School Educational Foundation, and then-Mayor Max Bacon launched a simple 4:00 p.m. race with one clear purpose: raise money to support Campbell High School students.
Nearly three decades later, that commitment is still running strong.
In its early years, the Jonquil City Jog raised between $3,000 and $4,000 annually. Participation climbed steadily — 470 runners in 1999, more than 600 by 2002, peaking at 890 in 2006. By 2007, total contributions had surpassed $52,000. By 2008, the annual payout reached $10,000.
Then came the economic downturn.
Participation leveled. But generosity did not.
Sponsors leaned in, keeping the $10,000 annual contribution steady — even when COVID halted races across the country. Though the event couldn’t proceed in its usual format, sponsors ensured Campbell High School continued receiving support. The race may have paused — but the investment did not.
That resilience says something about Smyrna.
It says we do not abandon what matters.
Today, the race begins at 8:00 a.m., a shift made in its third year. The course is certified, flat and fast — a Peachtree Road Race qualifier since 2014. In 2025, 620 runners registered.
But the impact of the Jonquil City Jog has never been measured by finish times.
Since 2017 alone, the race has raised more than $67,000 for the Campbell High School Educational Foundation — and well over $100,000 when earlier years are included. Those funds support the College and Career Center, AP exam scholarships, college scholarships, teacher grants, and programs like ROTC.
Behind every dollar is a student with greater opportunity.
A student who can afford to take an AP exam.
A student who receives guidance navigating college applications.
A student who feels seen, supported, and prepared.
In 2023, the race expanded its reach when Support Smyrna joined as a beneficiary. Proceeds are now split between CHSEF and Support Smyrna — strengthening both academic investment and family stability across our city.
Support Smyrna partners closely with school social workers to meet urgent needs while protecting privacy. Sometimes that means prescription eyeglasses so a child can see clearly in class. Sometimes it means groceries after a missed paycheck. Sometimes it means emergency repairs that allow a family to remain safely in their home.
Recently, two longtime Smyrna residents in their eighties and nineties — rooted here for generations — faced serious health challenges and limited income. Determined to remain in the home they’d cherished for decades, they needed temporary help accessing food. Support Smyrna stepped in with grocery gift cards, preserving both stability and independence.
That is what a race registration becomes.
It becomes dignity.
It becomes stability.
It becomes neighbors showing up for neighbors.
And then there’s the pie.
Through the generosity of Kenny’s Great Pies, age-group winners don’t just receive a medal — they take home a whole pie. It’s become one of the most beloved traditions of the Jonquil City Jog, and more than a few runners admit it’s strong motivation.
It’s a small detail — but perfectly Smyrna: a local business supporting local students, turning a finish line into something a little sweeter.
Mayor Derek Norton describes the Jonquil City Jog as an event that brings Smyrna together for two causes that directly serve our residents — and that’s what makes it powerful. For one morning each spring, competition gives way to compassion. It’s more than tradition. It’s action. It’s investment. It’s Smyrna choosing, again and again, to show up for its own.
For nearly thirty years, the Jonquil City Jog has been a steady reminder of who we are as a community. We invest in our students. We support our neighbors. We step forward when it matters.
That’s not just a race.
That’s Smyrna.
Event Information
The 2026 Jonquil City Jog
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
2800 King Street SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
Register at: RunSignUp.com/Race/GA/Smyrna/JonquilCityJog5K
Beneficiaries
Campbell High School Educational Foundation
chsedf.org
Support Smyrna
supportsmyrna.org