Races

Join us for the final race of the 2026 Into the Woods trail run series!  Wind your way through six miles of trails, fields, and boardwalk to go the distance.  The race will be chip-timed. Sign up now to guarantee your spot and get a runner’s buff the day of the event. 8:00 Check-in and day of registration opens 9:00 6-mile race begins $35 Pre-registration until October 9.  $40 Day of registration.  Premiums not guaranteed for day of registrants. Of course, we'll be sure to have fabulous post-race snacks and beverages to enjoy as we celebrate the final race of the 2026 series!   Kudos to Erie Beer for once again providing post-race beverages!

Join us for the final race of the 2026 Into the Woods trail run series!  Wind your way through six miles of trails, fields, and boardwalk to go the distance.  The race will be chip-timed. Sign up now to guarantee your spot and get a runner’s buff the day of the event. 8:00 Check-in and day of registration opens 9:00 6-mile race begins $35 Pre-registration until October 9.  $40 Day of registration.  Premiums not guaranteed for day of registrants. Of course, we'll be sure to have fabulous post-race snacks and beverages to enjoy as we celebrate the final race of the 2026 series!   Kudos to Erie Beer for once again providing post-race beverages!

Join us for the final race of the 2026 Into the Woods trail run series! Wind your way through six miles of trails, fields, and boardwalk to go the distance. The race will be chip-timed. Sign up now to guarantee your spot and get a runner’s buff the day of the event. 8:00 Check-in and day of registration opens 9:00 6-mile race begins $35 Pre-registration until October 9. $40 Day of registration. Premiums not guaranteed for day of registrants. Of course, we'll be sure to have fabulous post-race snacks and beverages to enjoy as we celebrate the final race of the 2026 series! Kudos to Erie Beer for once again providing post-race beverages!

Course – A 0.68 mile loop (macadam only) or a 1.64M loop comprising macadam (blacktop) and Woodland trail. Weather conditions on day of event will let you determine which course you choose. The Road Course has been removed. Simply too much to be worthwhile. Since we added the woodland course, participants may choose to switch courses right up until they start the event. Once you start, you'll continue to use the same course for the day. (You can't switch back & forth between courses - there's no way we'd be able to keep track of you.) The race will be limited to 100 total participants. Event begins at 6:30 am and ends at 6:30 pm. You may begin and end at any time you like during that time. You may even leave the course and come back. It's all up to you.

Wear white, get colors tossed on you as you run by, finish looking like a rainbow! This event is only open to students of the Montessori Regional Charter School

Don't miss your chance to be a part of the inaugural Erie Playhouse Ghostlight Halloween 5K, presented by Cunningham Chrysler of Edinboro! 👻 Runners of all abilities are encouraged to join us on Halloween as we race through downtown Eerie, PA. WHAT IS THE ERIE PLAYHOUSE GHOSTLIGHT HALLOWEEN 5K? 👻 💡 The Erie Playhouse Ghostlight Halloween 5K is a festive 5K run/walk hosted by the Erie Playhouse in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. The course weaves through downtown Erie with runners, walkers, and volunteers alike dressed up in their Halloween finest. Expect a high-energy 5K course packed with music provided by Millennium Sound, professional timing by Big White Trailer, and event photography captured by Joe Gallagher. WHEN IS THE GHOSTLIGHT 5K? 📆 The race takes place on Saturday, October 31 at 9:00 AM, starting and finishing right outside the Erie Playhouse at 13 W. 10th Street, Erie, PA. CAN I DRESS UP? 👯 Runners, walkers, and volunteers are all encouraged to dress up! Show off your creative, spooky, or theatrical best for a chance to win costume prizes in the following categories: Best Couple Best Group (3 or more)Best Kid Costume (Under 18)Best Adult (18 and Up)Best in Show HOW MUCH DOES THE RACE COST? 💰 Register early to lock in the best rate! Early Bird Tier: August 5 – August 31 - $35 Standard Tier: September 1 – September 30 - $40 Final/Race Day Tier: October 1 – October 31 - $45 Note: Participant incurs the RunSignup processing fees at checkout. WHAT DO I GET WITH MY REGISTRATION? 🤨 All registered participants receive an official race shirt, swag bag, course photos, post-race refreshments, and admission to the vendor fair. T-Shirt Sizes Available: Adult XS - 3XL; Youth S-XL You must register by October 17 to be guaranteed a t-shirt. Registrations after October 17 are not guaranteed a shirt, and prices will not be discounted for missing the shirt deadline. IS THERE PRE-RACE PACKET PICKUP? ⌛️ Yes! We will host pre-race packet pickup on Friday, October 30 from 1-4 PM in the Erie Playhouse lobby (13 W. 10th Street). ARE THERE AWARDS FOR THE RACE? 🥇🥈🥉 Prizes will be awarded following the race for top performers: Overall Winners: Top 3 Overall Male & Top 3 Overall Female Age Group Awards: Top finishers in the following age brackets: 14 & Under15–1920–2930–3940–4950–5960–6970 & Over The awards ceremony will begin at 10 AM. IS THERE AN AFTERPARTY? HOW ABOUT POST-RACE REFRESHMENTS? 🎉 All runners will receive post-race refreshments at the finish line. Sponsors booths will also be available for browsing. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? For questions or sponsorship inquiries, please send an email to Kate Thiem at kate.thiem@erieplayhouse.org.

On Site Registration - Don't let closed registration slow you down - come down & register on-site.. In association with the Polar Plunge, we're holding a special 5k to benefit the Special Olympics. After you warm up, you might consider jumping in the lake. In November. In Erie. Brrrr. COME CHILL. Kick off Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s 2024-2025 Polar Plunge season in Erie Pennsylvania! This year, we’ll be celebrating 10 YEARS of plunging into Lake Erie! Throughout the plunge season, Special Olympics Pennsylvania will host eight plunges around the keystone state. So, create your team and join thousands of plungers around the state in making a splash to support our athletes. NEW THIS YEAR Join us for the Frozen Footraces! Warm-up with a 5K or 10K race or 1 mile chill walk along the roads of Presque Isle before plunging into the frigid water at 12 PM!

Classic 5k and 10k events to celebrate the harvest. Burn calories to earn space for dinner later in the day. Put your dinner in the oven, come run or walk your race, celebrate with many of your running friends, and go home to enjoy the day. Pre-race packet pickup will be at Level Red/Fitness Now. Reminder that this is the first race of the winter series. You must volunteer or finish the Turkey Trot, NYD and St. Patrick's Day race to qualify. Of Critical Importance: In years past, we have had a problem with folks crossing into the traffic lane to get around slower runners. This is a safety hazard and endangers the event itself. In short, if we don't cut it out, we'll lose the ability to hold the event at Presque Isle at all. If we don't fix it, we won't have it. Check out the "Corrals" page for more information Don't try to park at Beach 1. The parking lots at Beach 1 will not be open for parking due to traffic problems of 10K runners leaving after the race, the shuttle busses will start at 6:30 AM. You will not be able to enter the beach 1 parking lot unless you are a volunteer at beach 1. Race information emails will begin a few days before the race. Don't forget to come to the after party at Rainbow Gardens