Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s Official International Folk Festival, will kick off this summer’s celebration with the first annual Folkmoot 4.01K race through downtown Waynesville starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 14.

This year, organizers decided to tweak the traditional 5K Folkmoot race by shifting the racecourse from Hazelwood to downtown Waynesville and offering participants a unique distance — 4.01 kilometers or roughly 2.5 miles. The race is named after the popular retirement plan, 401(k).

Since there is no similar race of this distance, male and female runners will not only compete to win awards, but have the designation of setting a world record.

A “Kids’ K” run/walk looping around downtown Waynesville will be held after the 4.01K race.

Registration for the 4.01K run/walk will cost $20 before July 14 and $25 on race day. The Kids’ K race registration is $8. Online registration is available at www.LeeTiming.com.

Registration forms are also available at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Avenue, Waynesville. Proceeds from the 4.01K Races will support the not-for-profit Folkmoot USA Festival, which brings more than 350 dancers and musicians from around the world to perform and share their culture for two weeks throughout Western North Carolina.

This year’s festival will run from July 18-29 and will include invited groups from Belgium, Indonesia, Serbia, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, New Zealand, France and Hawaii, USA. Go to www.FolkmootUSA.org for details.