Limited Spots Available – Register Now!
To ensure a high-quality experience for all participants, we are capping registration for The Silver Heist & Little Bandits Bolt at 150 runners. Once we hit our limit, registration will close—so don’t wait to sign up! Secure your spot today and join us for this exciting race through history.
We'll see you on September 26, 2026 in Orwell Vermont!
An event to support the Orwell Village School Booster Club and Orwell Historical Museum!
Endorsed by NE65Plus.org – Supporting healthy, active lifestyles for all ages!
Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K
A historic town, a daring heist, and a race for silver—lace up and step into the Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K! Orwell, Vermont, was chartered in 1763 and has a rich history filled with resilience and community spirit. Among its earliest settlers was Deacon Ebenezer (Eber) Murray, who arrived in 1783. Known as the only man in town with a clock, Eber would blow a conch shell at 9 p.m. every evening to signal the time for evening prayers. In tribute to this tradition, the Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K will begin with the blast of a conch shell.
Our town is no stranger to bandit heists. In October 1862, just before the town fair, outlaws swept through Orwell, robbing several homes. Among those affected was Marcellus Royce, who lost $30 in silver to the thieves. The following year, in 1863, the First National Bank of Orwell was chartered, making it the oldest national bank in New England.Over its 162 years of dedicated service, the local Young family has managed it including the 5th generation and current bank manager, Bryan Young.
In this semisquicentennial of our nation's founding, we remember the Revolutionary War and the efforts of our founders to separate from King George III's oppresive rule with a wooden token "R" for participants. The fort at Mount Independence is located within the Town of Orwell. The Great Bridge, completed in 1777, crossed Lake Champlain and connected Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga. Built to move Revolutionary troops and supplies between Vermont and New York, it also discouraged British naval attacks to the south of the Fort. Of its 22 piers, the Orwell Historical Museum preserves a 9” section of one pier, found by Addison Kimball and donated by Orwell entrepreneur Fritz E. Lillie. Please stop in to our museum after the race to learn about our local participation in our nation's inception.
The wooden tokens collected from each year's race for the first six years will spell ORWELL.
The overall men's, women's, young man's and young women's winners will claim a custom award representing the $30 stolen from Marcellus Royce in 1862! Age division male and female winners will receive ribbons. Age groups are: 13+under, 14-16, 17-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95+up.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner or prefer a leisurely walk, the Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K welcomes participants of all paces. Step into history, embrace the thrill of the chase, and race through history on a dash for silver!
All in-person participants will take home a custom Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K T-shirt and the wooden token. Don’t miss these exclusive race-day rewards!
Little Bandits Bolt
For the youngest racers, the Little Bandits Bolt offers a pint-sized thrill! Kids will dash across the soccer field at Orwell Village School (OVS), sharing in the spirit of the Silver Heist as they race their way into local history. Every participant will receive a custom Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K T-shirt and a finisher’s token at the finish line—a special memento of the event’s historic theme.