Your Fall 2026 Race Calendar

25+ races in northern Michigan

By Northern Express Staff & Contributors | Sept. 19, 2026

Ready to fall into some healthy habits? Fall is the season of big bike competitions, footraces through the autumn foliage, and more turkey trots than you could shake a drumstick at. Here are 25+ races—from 1-milers to 100-milers—to keep you moving as the seasons change.

SEPTEMBER

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Cadillac Craft Beer Hustle 5K
215 S. Lake St., Cadillac
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Cadillac/CRAFTBEERHUSTLE

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Michigan Adventure Race: Big M Edition - Trekking & Biking
Big M Recreation Area, Wellston
miadventurerace.com/big-m-rec-area-2026/details

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Betsie Valley Trail Run: 13.1M, 10K, 5K, 1M Fun Run
Webber Sports Complex (ballfield), Thompsonville
runsignup.com/betsievalley

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Traverse City Trails Festival: 28, 15, & 0.6 Mile Bike Races & Balance Bike Race
Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC
bikesignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTrailsFestival

Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026
Blue Ribbon 5K Run/Walk for ZERO Prostate Cancer
Right Brain Brewery, TC
blueribbonrun.com

OCTOBER

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Sleeping Bear Marathon: 26.2M & 13.1M SOLD OUT; & 5K
Empire Beach
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Empire/SleepingBear

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Run The Town Pink 5K & 1M Remembrance Walk
480 River St., Manistee
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Manistee/RunTheTownPink

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Port City 5K Run
Main St., Frankfort
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Frankfort/PortCityRun

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Wolverine State 100: 100M, 100K, 100M Relay
Petoskey
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Petoskey/WolverineState100

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Farmland 5K, 10K & Kids’ Race
999 Rasho Rd., TC
farmland5k.com

Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Vineyard at Sunset 5K
French Valley Vineyard, Cedar
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Cedar/wine5k

Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Wolverine State 100: 50K
Petoskey
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Petoskey/WolverineState100

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Corn Maze & Cherry Orchard 5K
Cellar 1914, Central Lake
runsignup.com/Race/MI/CentralLake/CornMazeandCherryOrchard5K

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Rock the Light Trail Run 5K
Densmore Rd., Northport
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Northport/RocktheLightTrailRun

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
19th Annual Peak2Peak Mountain Bike Classic
Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
crystalmountain.com/events-activities/events/event-calendar/peak2peak-mountain-bike-classic

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Flee & Elude 10K & 5K
200 W. Michigan Ave., Grayling
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Grayling/FLEEELUDE5K10K

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
Ruck the Mountain & Run the Mountain - 6M
Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Thompsonville/AevitasRuckChallenge

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
Great Turtle Trail Half Marathon & 5.7M Run/Walk
Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island
runmackinac.com/great-turtle-trail-run

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
Morally Grey 5K Run/Walk
Magnus Park, Petoskey
runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Petoskey/MorallyGrey5K

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
18th Annual Traverse City Zombie Run 5K
Right Brain Brewery, TC
tczombierun.com

NOVEMBER

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Iceman Cometh Challenge Mountain Bike Race
Kalkaska Airport
iceman.com

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Toy Town Trot 5K
Behind Toy Town, Cadillac
toytowncadillac.com/events

Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026
Baker College “Bee” Thankful 5K
Veterans Serving Veterans Park, Cadillac
runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Cadillac/BakerCollegeBeeThankful5K

Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026
Turkey Vulture Trot 5K & 1M Fun Run
Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Thompsonville/TurkeyVultureTrotKMileFunRun

Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026
Traverse City Turkey Trot: 5K Run/Walk & 5M Flier
123 E. Eleventh St., TC
runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTurkeyTrot

DECEMBER

Saturday, Dec. 05, 2026
Charlevoix Hot Cocoa 5K Run & 1M Fun Run
Charlevoix Running Company, Charlevoix
runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/Charlevoix/CharlevoixHotCocoaRunK

Saturday, Dec. 05, 2026
Annual Elf Run 5K
202 N Bridge St., Bellaire
runsignup.com/Race/MI/Bellaire/1stAnnualElfRunBellaire

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026
TCTC Jingle Bell Run 5K
Park Place Hotel, TC
runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/jingleBellRun

Pictured: Crystal Mountain's Peak2Peak bike race will be held Oct. 17.