Holiday 5K
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Event overview
The Holiday 5K at Old Fort Niagara is the 10th annual 5K race held on December 20, 2025, in Youngstown, NY. The event takes place entirely within Fort Niagara State Park on a USATF certified course. Muskets will be fired to signal the start of the race. The race includes a post-race celebration in a large heated tent with food and music. Adult beverages are allowed inside the park for those 21 and older.
Course and logistics
The start and finish are located inside Fort Niagara State Park, adjacent to the historic cemetery near the lighthouse and Historic Old Fort Niagara. The course offers views of the Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canada), Historic Old Fort Niagara, and the Toronto skyline. Free parking is available in the main parking lot at Fort Niagara Beach; parking in the small lot at Old Fort Niagara is not permitted. Packet pickup and race-day services are provided in a heated tent. Participants who register by December 10 receive a custom embroidered earband; mail-in paper applications must be received by 12-18-25.
Registration, timing and awards
Standard registration is listed at $35, with a higher fee on race day. Professional timing uses Jaguar Electronic RFID timing provided by Race Management Solutions, and results and finisher certificates are available after the race. Awards include custom trophies for first overall male and female finishers and custom pint mugs for the top three male and female winners in each age group. Age groups start at 14 and under and continue in decade increments through 80 and older. The event has a no-refund policy and may be postponed, rescheduled, or offered as a virtual option for safety or other reasons. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
