Some events are memorable because of what they’re about.

Others are memorable because of the people who show up.

Last Sunday evening, I had the chance to volunteer as the photographer for the Beat Beethoven 5K at Oak Park, and I honestly don’t think I stopped smiling the entire time.

Participants of all ages gather after the Minot Beat Beethoven 5K race in a park with trees and a large inflatable arch.[/caption]

If you’ve never heard of Beat Beethoven, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Participants had one mission: complete the 5K before the final note of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Speakers were placed throughout Oak Park so runners and walkers could hear the music the entire way, turning an ordinary race into something completely unique. Some participants came to chase a personal record, while others simply wanted to enjoy a beautiful summer evening with friends and family.

Just before everything got underway, the clouds parted and the sun came out as if it had been waiting for the starting line. A few

raindrops had fallen beforehand, leaving behind that familiar North Dakota humidity. You know the kind. The kind that reminds you summer has officially arrived.

The race began at 5:35 p.m., but the festivities started even earlier. Live music from Risha Bergstrom welcomed everyone into the park before the race, while food trucks, a beer garden, and families spread throughout Oak Park created the perfect backdrop for an evening outdoors. After the race, Chris Basden and his full band kept the celebration going as part of the Minot Area Council of the Arts’ summer programming.

There were 109 participants this year, an increase from last year’s event, and it was incredible to see such a wide variety of people come together. Babies rode along in strollers. Kids ran with their parents. Adults of every age took on the challenge, from competitive runners to those simply enjoying a walk through the park. One participant even wore a wig, proving not everyone was taking themselves too seriously.

Then there was the first-place finisher.

He came around that final corner so much faster than I expected that I nearly missed the finish line photo trying to hustle into position.

Note to self: photographing a 5K in flip-flops is not one of my better ideas.

But as fun as the race itself was, my favorite part wasn’t who finished first.

It was the people waiting at the finish line.

As participants crossed, many stayed to cheer on those still making their way around the course. Complete strangers clapped for one another. Families encouraged every runner who came through. Even people simply enjoying the park paused to watch with smiles on their faces.

That’s the kind of community I love.

Those are also my favorite moments to photograph.

The high-fives.

The proud smiles after crossing the finish line.

The little kids watching with wide eyes.

The hugs, the laughter, the exhausted “we did it” expressions that happen naturally when no one is paying attention to the camera.

Those candid moments become memories that mean even more years down the road.

Somewhere between photographing runners, chatting with familiar faces, and meeting plenty of new ones, the smell of empanadas finally convinced me it was time for dinner. I happily grabbed some from El Encuentro Dominicano, and I have absolutely no regrets!

As someone who’s recently moved back to Minot, evenings like this remind me exactly why I was so excited to return.

I love the smaller-town feel.

I love recognizing familiar faces while meeting new ones.

I love that people show up for one another.

I love that a community can gather on a Sunday evening to race Beethoven, listen to live music, eat good food, and cheer on complete strangers.

And I love getting to preserve those moments through my camera.

A huge thank you to everyone who made the evening possible, including the Minot Symphony Orchestra, Run with Heart and Sole, the Minot Area Council of the Arts, Premier Movement, Premier Chiropractic, Ascend Wellness, the many volunteers, sponsors, musicians, and every participant who came out to support such a fun event. Proceeds from the race help support the Minot Symphony Orchestra, making the evening even more meaningful.

I’m grateful to be back in Minot, and if this event is any indication of the kind of community I’ll continue to experience here, I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Here’s to more evenings spent in Oak Park, more local events that bring people together, and more opportunities to capture the moments that make Minot feel like home.