Big Cheese 5K

APR

11

2026

The Big Cheese 5K in Athol is a festive community 5 km run. The course starts with the River Rat Parade crowd and finishes at the Town Hall. Proceeds support local health programs, and costumes are encouraged.

Sat 11 Apr 2026

Athol, Massachusetts

Registration

5 kilometers

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Event Information

The Big Cheese 5K is a 5 km running event taking place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Athol, Massachusetts. The event is organized by the Athol Area YMCA.

Course Details

The course starts on School Street and is described as the first division of the Annual River Rat Parade. The first mile runs along Main Street with parade crowd support. Mile 2 includes a hill on Exchange Street and a lap around Silver Lake Park, where a water station is operated by local Girl Scouts. The final half-mile is a downhill section on Crescent Street, finishing in front of Athol Town Hall on Main Street.

Additional Information

Event proceeds support the "Prescribe the Y Programming" initiative for community health and wellness. Strollers are permitted, and participants are welcome to wear costumes. There are prizes for top overall male and female finishers, age group winners, and best costume awards for adults and youth. Participants can win a block of award-winning Smith's Country Cheese. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

5 km

Big Cheese 5k