Friday Night Lights isn’t your typical running club — it’s where big runs meet big speakers, building a social scene that’s as much about community as it is about pace. Their mission? To create the UK’s healthiest night out, turning Friday evenings into high-energy, no-guilt, no-judgement spaces fuelled by music, movement, and good vibes.

One of my best friends helps run the show, and when they asked if I fancied helping out as a bartender at one of their one-day festivals, I jumped in, not knowing I’d come away feeling genuinely inspired.

The event was called Couch to 50K, and I’ll admit, I hadn’t been to a Friday Night Lights event before. I had no clue what to expect, but what I found was a brilliant blend of fitness, food, music, and community. The energy was infectious, the setup impressive, and the whole day left me buzzing.

The Venue and Vibes

Held in the heart of Battersea Park, Friday Night Lights had already won me over by choosing such a beautiful venue. With wide tree-lined paths full of casual runners, incredible scenery, and a glimpse of Battersea Power Station in the distance, I knew the day was going to be a treat.

As I stepped into the festival grounds near the bandstand, I was met with a colourful crowd of runners dressed in festival-style gear, a giant marquee blasting music, and rows of pop-up tents offering food, drinks, and wellness activities. Spirits were high and everyone, and I mean everyone, was ridiculously friendly. I was welcomed by strangers as if we’d known each other for ages. That sense of community stuck with me all day. The crowd was as diverse as it was open-hearted, and people were constantly encouraging each other, sharing race stories, and even inviting me to future running events.

Before my shift behind the bar kicked off, I had a wander around and was honestly impressed by the variety the festival offered. Of course, being a running event, there was a strong wellness focus — zero sugar energy drinks, healthy breakfast snacks, and even a yoga and massage tent to help runners stretch and recover between races. There was also a brilliant recycled running shoe scheme, where handing in your old pair earned you a free drink and was used throughout the day.

But this wasn’t just a green juice and granola event. The food and drink selection was on point. One highlight was the Caribbean stand by All in a Box, serving up the most vibrant jerk chicken rice bowl I’ve ever seen, honestly, it looked like edible artwork. They also had mac and cheese for anyone craving something more indulgent, and the smell alone was enough to make you stop mid-sentence, and I was working right next to it, so I was continuously hungry.

Behind the bar, I was working the Only Cans and Gear tent, serving a mix of alcoholic drinks. We had a partnership with Jubel Beer, a British lager cut with peach. I usually hate flavoured lagers, but Jubel honestly surprised me — light, refreshing, with just a hint of peach at the end. Perfect for the festival vibe of the day.

And in a twist of hip hop-meets-hydration, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Gin and Juice brand was also sponsoring the event. The drinks were exactly what they promised — premium gin mixed with sparkling water, with flavours like apricot, melon, passionfruit, and citrus. Unsurprisingly, they flew off the shelves.

With good food, great drinks, and even better people, the only thing left to bring it all together was the running itself.

The Runs & The Runners

There were five races broken up over the day. The two most popular running events which everyone was preparing for was the half marathon run and the 10k run, with the half marathon including a 3km warm-up run with questions to get to know each other – enhancing that community spirit. For those with a more competitive edge there was a marathon race and for those with a death wish, with 70 participants, there was the 50k run.

Plenty of runners had objectives to hit a certain time or break a personal best, but the races are not designed to be competitive. There was no pressure to compete, just a collective push to do your best.

And this clearly showed. There was a lot of commotion when runners set off with lots of encouragement and by the end of the run when people were returning there was lots of hugs, compliments and congratulations for everyone’s results.

After people had rested for a few hours and received some massage treatments and yoga stretches the entire festival got up and prepared for the 5k party run. An event where you can run, walk or dance. he party run mirrors Friday Night Lights’ usual Friday evening run club, with volunteers carrying speaker back packs playing out party music, there are confetti guns going off and people can just be themselves and vibe.

This run gave festival goers the taste for a party and by the time the runners were washed and returned the evenings festivities were just beginning.

Evening Energy: Festival Mode Activated

After the 5k party run, people were clearly ready to unwind. As that mood settled in, the sun started to dip and the festival lights around the marquee tent began to shine more vibrantly — and the drinks started flying out of the bar.

The music ramped up, and as the day faded into night, festival-goers were treated to two DJ sets: DJ Howard kicked things off with a 90-minute set, followed by DJ Farhanna who kept the energy high until 11pm. I honestly thought people would be too tired to drink and dance through the evening, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The tent was packed, the lights were flashing, and people were just letting loose. The setlist was electric — full of party bangers — and even onlookers outside the event looked curious, wondering if they could sneak in and join the fun.

Around this time, I moved over to the DJ bar, serving pints of Jubel — and once again, the vibe of the festival was golden. There was no hint of trouble or rowdiness; just a collective of people genuinely enjoying themselves. What really stood out to me was how festival staff were able to take part in some of the runs too, creating a kind of closeness and familiarity between guests and the team. So, when the bar started closing and the night wound down, everyone was super chill, thankful to the volunteers and staff, and made their way home with smiles still on their faces.

Reflections from the Finish Line

This was my first time working as a bartender at a festival — let alone one rooted in fitness — and I didn’t know what to expect. But Friday Night Lights completely delivered. Even behind the bar, I felt part of the crowd. It was fun, energising, and surprisingly wholesome.

I’ve never seen anything like this in London — a night out that blends running, music, and real connection. It’s a running club, a party, and a community rolled into one. And next time? I might just swap my bar shift for a bib.

If you’re after a Friday night that hits different, this is it. Don’t worry if you missed this one — Friday Night Lights has more dates lined up this summer (just be quick — tickets go fast!). Keep them on your radar — they really are the party run crew bringing the rave to the streets.

Friday Night Lights Run Club Information

Website: www.fridaynightlights.run/

Instagram: @fridaynightlights.run