Daffodil Dash - Ithaca
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Event Overview
The Daffodil Dash is a spring running and walking event in Ithaca, New York. It is sponsored by the Ithaca Garden Club and Ithaca Children's Garden. The 2026 edition is the event's fourth year.
Distances and Start Times
The event offers two distances.
- A 1-mile fun run/walk.
- A 5K run/walk.
Course and Setting
The route goes along the Cayuga Inlet at Cass Park. Participants run, walk, roll, or stroll past over 180,000 daffodils planted by the Ithaca Garden Club and community volunteers. The 1-mile course finishes at Gaia, the turtle sculpture at Ithaca Children's Garden.
Registration and Fees
Online registration is required and limited to the first 500 applicants or until April 10, 2026, whichever comes first. The registration fee for participants 13 and over is $25. An optional event t-shirt is available for $10. Children 12 and under receive free registration and can purchase a t-shirt for $5. A responsible adult must remain on site for each youth participant.
Purpose and Impact
The event is a fundraiser. All proceeds are converted into daffodil bulbs for community planting projects. For example, proceeds from the 2025 event funded 70,000 bulbs planted at the Cayuga Medical Center Hospital entrance. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
