Gettysburg Festival of Races
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Event Overview
The Gettysburg Festival of Races is a weekend event featuring three races. It takes place on April 25-26, 2026. Saturday features a health and fitness expo and a pasta dinner. The races are held on Sunday.
The Races
Participants can choose from three distances:
- Gettysburg North-South Marathon: A Boston Marathon-certified, two-loop course.
- Gettysburg Blue-Gray Half Marathon: A single-loop course.
- 2L Race Services 5K: A shorter course with rolling hills.
All races start and finish at the Eisenhower Conference Center.
Location and Course
The event is located at 3632 Emmitsburg Road in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The marathon and half marathon courses wind through wooded back roads and cross the historic Mason-Dixon Line into Maryland before returning. The courses are described as hilly. The roads are not fully closed to traffic.
Schedule and Activities
On Saturday, there is a health and fitness expo and an optional pasta dinner. On Sunday, the marathon and half marathon begin first, followed by the 5K. A post-race party includes food and a beer garden for participants 21 and older (with a ticket from the race bib).
Swag and Awards
All registrants receive a finisher shirt, goodie bag, commemorative pint glass, and digital finisher photos. Finishers of the marathon and half marathon also receive a medal. Awards are given to the top three overall male and female finishers in each distance, as well as top finishers in various age groups. Team awards are also available.
Charity and Fundraising
The event supports the Warrior Canine Connection. Participants can fundraise to receive a free race entry. The first 20 entrants to meet the fundraising minimums are eligible.
Additional Information
The event has participant caps for each distance. The course has a 6-hour time limit for the marathon and half marathon. Refunds are not allowed, but deferrals or transfers may be considered individually. Headphones are discouraged but not banned. Baby joggers, strollers, and pets are not permitted on the course. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
