Robbie Burns Day Road Races
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Event overview
The Robbie Burns Day Road Races take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust Street, Burlington, ON L7S 1T7. Distances offered include:
- 8 km Run and Walk - two laps of a 4 km loop
- 4 km Run and Walk
The event uses chip timing and provides custom finishers' medals, awards, post-race oatmeal, and bag check as part of registration. Live bagpipes are part of the race send-off. The race is part of the Burlington Runners Club series and supports fundraising partners including the Fit Active Beautiful Foundation and the Burlington Track & Field Club; the fundraising listings show $765.27 raised.
Course, safety and logistics
The start and finish are on Elgin Street next to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The course runs clockwise along Elgin, Maple, Richmond, Hager, Olga and Brant, returning to Elgin. Eight-kilometre entrants complete the loop twice. There is an interim cutoff at 4 km of 45 minutes and a full-course cutoff of 90 minutes for 8 km; after these times participants must continue from the sidewalk. Marshals and police are stationed at major intersections, but many driveways are unmonitored. Runners must stay within the coned course and are discouraged from wearing headphones. Free municipal parking is available at the Locust Street parking garage (about 400 spots) and at municipal lots #7, #8 and #3; the No Frills Plaza and a private lot across Locust are not free on weekends. Advance race kit pickup is available at the Running Room store, 3300 Fairview St, and a bib mail-out option is offered for a fee. Bag check is free inside the venue. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
