Top of Michigan Festival of Races

Sat, May 23, 2026, 7:30 AM EDT

Location: Petoskey, MI; Bayfront Dr., Bayfront Park - Lime Kiln Kid's Fishing Pier, 49770
Type: RUN

At a glance

Run along the beautiful Little Traverse Bay and support local trails and high school athletic teams in Petoskey, Michigan.

Scenic
Competitive
For a Cause

Who it's for

School & Youth Teams

Great for: cause-driven runners, runners who like a competitive edge

Less ideal for: walkers-only pacing

Join the Top of Michigan Festival of Races in Petoskey, Michigan, offering Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K distances. This event supports the Top of Michigan Trails Council and local high school track and cross country teams. Runners will enjoy a mostly paved course along the scenic Little Traverse Wheelway, featuring beautiful views of Little Traverse Bay. Expect a relatively flat route with a few sections on grass and dirt, providing a varied and engaging experience for all participants.

What to expect

Experience a scenic course along the Little Traverse Wheelway with stunning views of Little Traverse Bay.
The route is mostly paved and relatively flat, with some sections on grass and dirt.
Receive a finisher medal, event T-shirt, and enjoy refreshments post-race. Top Male/Female awards are also presented.

Standout details

Benefits local trails and school teams
Spectacular views of Little Traverse Bay
Mostly paved, relatively flat course
Shake Out Run with Asics

Perks & features

Medal
Swag Included

From the public listing — confirm on the official site.

Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.

Distances & registration

4 options

Registration for all distances is through the official signup link above.

3.1 Miles
Sat, May 23, 8:15 AM EDT · From $33.30
Opens Dec 8, 2025, 4:00 AM EST · Closes Feb 14, 2026, 6:59 PM EST
6.2 Miles
Sat, May 23, 8:00 AM EDT · From $49.20
Opens Dec 8, 2025, 4:00 AM EST · Closes Feb 14, 2026, 6:59 PM EST
13.1 Miles
Sat, May 23, 7:30 AM EDT · From $75.70
Opens Dec 8, 2025, 4:00 AM EST · Closes Feb 14, 2026, 6:59 PM EST

+ 1 more option

Shake Out Run
Fri, May 22, 9:30 AM EDT · From $0.00
Opens Mar 20, 2026, 6:09 AM EDT · Closes May 22, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT

The course

Mixed
Hilly
Timed race

Difficulty

Push Potential

Mixed surface + hills, longer distance

half marathon distance, mixed surface, hilly area

Mostly trail

Based on typical seasonal and area patterns — not a course map or official forecast.

From the organizer

Top of Michigan Festival of Races includes a series of races that benefit the Top of Michigan Trails Council and the Petoskey High School Track and Cross Country teams.

The course is run along the Little Traverse Wheelway, a non-motorized trail that runs from Charlevoix, through Petoskey/Bay Harbor and onto Harbor Springs. This year, our course will be out and backs from Petoskey's waterfront. The trail is an excellent venue for runners. The trail is relatively flat and has spectacular views of the Little Traverse Bay. Please note that there are a few off road sections of this route, on grass and dirt.

The Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k start and end in Petoskey. The course is mostly paved, with some sections on grass and a short section on trail, connecting into the Petoskey State Park for the 10k and Half Marathon.

NEW THIS YEAR - Shake Out Run with Asics and Charlevoix Running Company Date: Friday, May 22nd at 9:30 am Location: 327 Bridge St, Charlevoix, MI 49720

2026 Courses are as follows: - 5k Course - 10k Course - Half Marathon Course We expect 2025's to be the same!

Event Information:

Event Date:

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Event Location:

Lime Kiln Kid’s Fishing Pier, Bayfront Park, Petoskey, MI 49770

Event Times:

Friday Packet Pickup - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - TBD Saturday Packet Pickup - 6:30 am to 7:15 am @ Lim Kiln Kid's Fishing Pier, Bayfront Park Half Marathon Race Begins - 7:30 am 10K Race Begins - 8:00 am 5K Race Begins - 8:15 am Awards - TBD Registration Fees:

Half - $70 Early Registration 10K - $45 Early Registration 5K - $30 Early Registration All races will have price increases on February 15, 2026, and again April 15, 2026 Registration Includes:

Refreshments Finisher Medals Top Male/Female Awards T-Shirt (cut off May 12th) Parking Options: - There are three parking lots along Bayfront Drive open to the public. Please do not use the marina parking lot. - The park above the bluff (Sunset Park) has a few parking spots available. - Our friends at Kilwins have offered parking in a portion of their parking lots. This map shows two sections (1&2) available for runners .

Allow for enough time to park and walk to the start line.

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