Gettysburg Festival of Races
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Event overview
The Gettysburg Festival of Races is a weekend running festival in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, taking place April 25-26, 2026, with race day on April 26. The event is based at the Eisenhower Conference Center / 3632 Emmitsburg Road and includes a health and fitness expo on the Saturday prior to the races. The festival combines three separate races held over one weekend.
Races and course
- Gettysburg North-South Marathon
- Gettysburg Blue-Gray Half Marathon
- 2L Race Services 5K
All courses start and finish at the Eisenhower Conference Center and run on scenic, hilly back roads in southern Adams County. Routes travel through wooded country roads, past fields and farms, and cross the Mason-Dixon Line into Maryland and back. The North-South Marathon is a two-loop course and shares the first 13.1 miles with the Blue-Gray Half Marathon. The marathon course is USATF certified (PA22010NP) and is eligible for Boston Marathon qualification.
Logistics, timing and amenities
Timing is provided with disposable bib chip timing. The marathon and half marathon courses have a 6-hour course open time; the 5K has a technical limit noted by organizers. Aid stations with water and electrolyte beverage are located approximately every 1.5-2 miles. All registrants receive a finisher shirt, a goodie bag, a commemorative pint glass, free digital finisher photos, and a digital finisher certificate. Finishers medals are awarded for the marathon and half marathon only. Post-race food and a beer garden are provided for participants 21+, and the bib tear tag is used for post-race refreshments.
Additional notes: portions of the course remain open to light traffic; spectators are not allowed on the course except volunteers at aid stations. Participant caps are 500 for the marathon, 1500 for the half marathon, and 500 for the 5K. Fundraising opportunities support Warrior Canine Connection with specified fundraising targets for free entries and a limited offer for the first entrants. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
