LAS VEGAS — October 1, 2025 — Eight years after the tragic mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival, Las Vegas continues to stand united in resilience and remembrance. This weekend, thousands gathered downtown for the Vegas Strong 5K, an annual run and walk honoring the 58 lives lost, the hundreds injured, and the countless survivors and first responders forever impacted by the October 1, 2017 tragedy.

Firefighters Lead the Way in Tribute

In a powerful display of solidarity, dozens of Las Vegas Valley firefighters donned full gear and ran as a unit, their heavy boots pounding the pavement as they moved together. Spectators lined the streets, applauding the first responders whose courage and sacrifice became symbols of hope on the night of the tragedy.

“It’s not about the miles, it’s about the meaning,” one firefighter explained. “We wear the gear to remind ourselves and everyone here that we never forget the weight carried by the survivors, families, and all who were there that night.”

A Community in Motion

The 5K began at the symbolic starting arch marked “Vegas Strong,” with participants ranging from competitive runners to families pushing strollers. Survivors walked side by side with strangers who became friends through shared remembrance. Many wore shirts emblazoned with the iconic #VegasStrong slogan, while others carried signs, flags, or personal mementos.

At every step, the message was clear: Las Vegas remembers — and heals together.

Support Services on Display

Community organizations played a vital role in the remembrance event. The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada’s Resiliency & Justice Program hosted an outreach booth, providing resources for survivors and families still navigating the long-term impacts of trauma. The program, created in the wake of the shooting, continues to offer legal and counseling services for those affected.

“Our goal is to let survivors know they are not alone, even years later,” said one volunteer. “Healing is a process, and events like this bring people together in ways that are both emotional and empowering.”

More Than Just a Race

For many, the Vegas Strong 5K is not about finishing first but about taking part in something larger. Before the race began, a moment of silence honored the lives lost. As the crowd moved forward, the streets echoed not just with footsteps but with collective resilience.

Several participants wore purple and gold ribbons pinned to their shirts — the official remembrance colors — while others wrote names of loved ones on race bibs as personal tributes.

“This is my eighth year walking,” one survivor shared. “Every year, I see more faces, more support, more strength. It shows that the world hasn’t forgotten, and that’s what matters.”

A Lasting Legacy of Resilience

The October 1 tragedy remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, but the response of the Las Vegas community has defined its legacy. From the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center to memorials across the valley, the focus has been on healing, support, and never forgetting.

As the sun broke through the clouds on the day of the remembrance run, the sight of thousands moving together downtown captured the essence of Vegas Strong: a community that chooses unity over fear, remembrance over silence, and resilience over tragedy.