Festival of Lights
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Festival of Lights 5K
The Festival of Lights is a 5K road race held on Saturday, December 5, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Park in the Town of Niagara, with the start and finish adjacent to the Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center at 7000 Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, New York 14305. The course is USATF certified as Course #NY18006JJ and runs mostly on asphalt with a woodland section on a packed gravel trail.
Online registration remains open until the start of the race. Entry fees are $30 through October 31 and $35 from November 1 through race day or until sold out. Participants who register by November 27, 2026 at 9:00 am are guaranteed an official Festival of Lights 5K t-shirt in their requested size; a limited number of extra shirts will be distributed first come first served and an alternate gift will be provided if shirts run out. Mail-in registration requires completion and mailing of both the race waiver and the USATF liability waiver along with payment to the address shown on the waiver.
There will be one water stop at the midpoint and bottled water at the finish. Post race food includes pizza and hot chocolate, and there will be music and an awards ceremony. Timing is provided using Jaguar Electronic RFID timing by Race Management Solutions with real time results and downloadable finisher certificates. Free parking is available on site; the lot nearest the finish holds about 40 cars and additional lots within walking distance hold hundreds of vehicles. Net proceeds will be used to purchase toys for students at Tuscarora Indian Elementary School. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
