TUPELO - The Gum Tree 10k race will coincide again with the popular art festival bearing the same name but will change its course to avoid conflict.

It's the first route change in 16 years, said race director Andy Hughes, who made the announcement at a news conference Friday outside City Hall.

Runners will start near Atlanta Bar amp& Grill on West Main Street and head west until Church Street, completely avoiding the GumTree Festival around the Lee County Courthouse square.

The race will end at Fairpark.

It draws about 1,000 people per year and is the largest 10k in Mississippi, according to the Tupelo Running Club, which heads it.

Two years ago, race and festival organizers had a very public conflict when the festival moved off the courthouse grounds and onto the streets, which included part of the course.

Last year, the race and festival occupied different weekends due to an odd calendar year: The race always happens the second Saturday of the month; the festival always on Mother's Day weekend, which usually coincides with the race but last year did not.

Hughes downplayed the conflict during the news conference, saying it barely factored into the decision. Instead, organizers wanted to take advantage of Fairpark as the finish line, and noted the area makes an ideal spot for their youth race, Habitat 2k.

GumTree Festival organizer Kit Stafford, who also heads the GumTree Museum of Art, said she's happy about the decision for many reasons.

"Their new route definitely helps in our layout so we don't have to move things back and forth after they pass," she said. "And I'm pleased it's same day as the festival and still downtown, because that energy builds and makes for a great weekend."

Mayor Jack Reed Jr. also lauded the move, saying it embodies the Tupelo spirit and alleviates any future conflicts.

"It wasn't like the Palestinians and the Israelis," he said, "but it is nice not to have to deal with it again."

emily.lecoz@journalinc.com