Frostbite Festival
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Frostbite Festival
The Frostbite Festival is a December road-race event held in Springfield, Illinois, at AMF Springfield Lanes, 2660 W Lawrence Ave. The 2026 date is December 6 and the event marks the 63rd anniversary. Both races use the same out and back course with notable roller coaster hills. Start and finish are on West Lawrence, and pre- and post-race activities are located inside AMF Springfield Lanes, 2600 West Lawrence; indoor bathrooms are available.
Race distances:
- 2 mile
- 10 mile
The event offers both in-person and virtual participation options. The virtual option allows participants to run or walk on their own course and submit a finish time beginning December 6, 2026; virtual results may be entered for one week after the in-person race. There will be no course support, markings, or marshals for virtual entries, and there are no age group awards for the virtual event. If an in-person entrant does not start the race, they will be transferred to the virtual event.
A local training group called FrostToes provides free preparation for the 10 mile race, with two weekday evening meetings in Washington Park and a long run on Saturday. The 10 mile race serves as the final leg of the SRRC Triple Crown Challenge and of Abe’s 50K Throwdown, and the Frostbite Festival is the final race of the season.
Registration is conducted through RunSignUp only; cash and checks are not accepted and entries may not be transferred between persons. Packet pickup is scheduled the Saturday before the race at M Fitness Health & Wellness, 3450 B Liberty Dr, Springfield, and on race morning outside AMF Springfield Lanes. Online registration includes an optional $15 packet mailing fee to have a packet mailed after race weekend. A guaranteed shirt deadline is set for October 2026; extra shirts will be ordered and registrants who select a size during registration will receive one. Participants will receive race day parking instructions prior to the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
