Freighter Festival of Races
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Freighter Festival of Races
The Freighter Festival of Races is a downtown Sault Sainte Marie event held at the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours location, 515 E Portage Ave, next to the Pullar Ice Arena and the Museum Ship Valley Camp. The courses run east along the St. Marys River and offer views of upbound and downbound freighters during the opening weekend of the shipping season. The event typically sells out at about 200 to 250 participants.
There are three distance options:
- 5K Run
- 5K Walk
- Half Marathon
Packet pickup is available before race day and on the event day near the start and finish area; additional long sleeve t-shirts are available for purchase at packet pickup. Restroom facilities are inside the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours building within about 50 meters of the start and finish, and there is a large parking lot at the venue.
The half marathon course includes five aid stations offering water, Gatorade, and snacks placed at several points along the route, including turnaround locations. All participants receive a unique freighter medal. Awards are given for overall gender, masters, and grand masters, and first-place age group awards are planned for standard age divisions. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
