Floss & Run

Floss & Run is the inaugural event from the Dental Foundation of Oregon, the fundraising arm of the Oregon Dental Association, and it takes place on Sunday, October 18, at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland. The course runs through the club's golf course on a path surrounded by giant Douglas firs, which the organizers describe as gently challenging. Dental-themed costumes are encouraged, so if you've got a toothbrush-inspired outfit in the back of your closet, this is the day to bring it out.

There are three ways to get involved. The 1K Brush Rush starts at 8:30 AM, followed by the 5K Floss and Run at 9:20 AM and the 5K Floss and Walk at 9:30 AM. Every registrant gets a swag bag, a raffle ticket, and free entry into a putting contest, with more raffle tickets and putting entries available on-site. You can also meet Mo the Molar, Flossie the Floss, and Tilly the Tooth Fairy. Just a heads-up: dogs aren't allowed, though parking is free.

All the proceeds go to the Tooth Taxi, the Foundation's mobile free dental care and education program. It travels 48 weeks a year to children who are uninsured, underinsured, unhoused, rural-based, or experiencing a dental emergency. In 2025, the Tooth Taxi team cared for 1,027 children at 32 schools and neighborhood centers, providing nearly $634,000 in free services.

Check-in and bib/T-shirt pickup start at 7 AM at Rock Creek Country Club, 5100 NW Neakahnie Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97229. Entry is $29 for the 1K, $49 for the 5K run, and $9.99 for the 5K walk, plus processing and taxes.