Year 41 — and America's 250th Birthday!
This is the one you don't want to miss.
The Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club is fired up to bring you the 2026 Firecracker — and this year is unlike any other. Our nation is celebrating its 250th birthday, and we're throwing the party Santa Cruz style: lace up your shoes, hit the pavement, and kick off Independence Day the way this community has for over four decades at Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz CA.
We're calling all runners, walkers, families, and friends — our goal is 1,000+ runners this year!
That's right. We want to make the 2026 Firecracker the biggest in our history. So grab your crew, sign up your neighbors, rope in your coworkers, and let's pack Harvey West Park on the Fourth of July. Whether you're chasing a PR or pushing a stroller, there's a course for you.
Run through 300 foot tall, 1500 year-old Coastal Redwoods, lush stream canyons, open meadows, pine and oak forests, and high dry chaparral-covered ridges. The Half Marathon, 30K, Marathon, and 50K events cross the San Lorenzo River (shown above) multiple times!
(Distances are accurately measured using a Rolatape® surveyor's measuring wheel.)
Join us for another year of fun in the sun! At the Jolly10k you'll take a 10K or a 5K run or walk, through stunning Los Gatos mountain trails and arrive back at the finish line to enjoy fun, food and fellowship. We have informational booths, a variety of resource tables, CPR training and as always the Los Gatos Fire Dept. joins us for a group photo with the Fire Engine. We definitely have fun, but the reason we gather for the Jolly10k is to create a safe environment to have the difficult conversations about addiction and the deadly epidemic of Fentanyl that has flooded our country and stolen far too many young lives. But together, we can remember our loved ones and share life-saving information on how to prevent the next life lost from being someone in your family. Excercise, Information & Education!
The Loyalty Registration window is from Wednesday, March 25th at 7am until Monday, March 30th at 5pm. If eligible, you will have an access code emailed to you on March 25th at 7am when registration opens. Your code does not guarantee or reserve you a space. However, those eligible can register with their code any time during that window. While your code will only work 1 times, you are allowed to register up to (5) participants under one transaction using the code.
Who is considered Loyal?
OR
How do I verify my Loyalty Status?
Click "VERIFY LOYALTY STATUS" button below.
Type in your first and last name.
If you are eligible, your name will appear with the words: "You are eligible."
If you are not eligible, your name will NOT appear and you will see the words:
"Your name or email was not found on the eligible list, if you feel this is in error please click "DISPUTE FORM" on right side of page."
What are the next steps if I am eligible for Loyalty Status?
Hang tight! Loyalty Registration will not open until Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 7:00am PDT.
If you are eligible, you will be emailed a unique access code on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Those eligible who received their code will have until Monday, March 30th at 5:00pm PDT to use their code to register.
Why might my name not appear in the database if I meet the criteria?
Our Loyalty database requires an exact match of your first name, last name and email address in 6 of 10 Wharf to Wharf registrations. Your name might not appear if:
You changed your last name.
You spelled your name wrong during registration.
You registered under a nickname.
You registered under different email addresses.
Please fill out our Dispute Form to resolve the issue. Dispute Forms must be submitted by March 22nd at 11:59pm PDT.
Still have questions?
Please email [email protected].
The 5th annual Strawberry Jam 1K/5K Fun Run/Walk coordinated by the Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services will kick-off the Watsonville Strawberry Festival on Saturday August 1, 2026. The Jam begins and ends at the temporary location, Landmark Elementary School in Watsonville while Ramsay Park is being renovated. This is an easy and fun course that includes Watsonville's beautiful slough system with an out and back section on Ohlone Parkway. See photo of course. No dogs please, but families and strollers are welcome. Register on Active.com. Races will be coordinated by the Santa Cruz Track Club.
The Jam is being held in conjunction with The Watsonville Strawberry Festival, held on Saturday, August 1, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, August 2, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in historic downtown Watsonville. https://www.watsonville.gov/1117/Watsonville-Strawberry-Festival
Contact: [email protected] for any questions.
Event details and schedule
Check-in on race day begins at 6:45 am at Landmark Elementary School parking lot. The Kids 1K Fun Run/Walk begins promptly at 7:45 am. Parents are welcome to join and guide their kids through the 1K run. The 5k Fun Run/Walk will follow for those of ages 12+ starting at 8am. There will be portable restrooms and water stations available on day of race. Look out for designated guides who will be stationed at various points throughout the race to ensure the designated course is easy to follow. Costumes are encouraged!!
Parking:
There is limited parking at Landmark Elementary School. Experienced Runners are encouraged to warm up by parking at the Ramsay Park Nature Center Parking Lot at on HARKINS SLOUGH ROAD and warming up for .5 miles on the path to race. There will be an attentent at the parking lot to help direct runners. Please see map for pathway from Nature Center to Landmark Elementary School.
Registration Fees are as follows:
Kids 1K (Ages 12 and under): $10
5K (Ages 12+):
$40 until 07/30/2026
$45 After 7/30 and Day of Event for Cash and Card Payments
Prizes:
Ribbons will be awarded to top 2 in each category.
Strawberry-themed socks will be given to all pre-registrants over age 12. Socks may be available on race day but are not guaranteed for day-of-race registrants.
Divisions:
Male and Felmale Categories
19 and Under
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
Contact: [email protected].
Come play at of one of the most fun and scenic events on the west coast. This race has a sprint and international (Olympic) distance triathlon, with relays, aquathalon and aquabike categories for both races. Clydesdale and Athena triathlon categories are available.
There is a special, non-competitive Family & Friends wave for people who are new to triathlon or just want to race with family and friends regardless of age or gender.
Special youth pricing is available for youth 12-17 and seniors 70+ for all individual distances. Contact us for a discount for an all youth/senior relay team.
Triathlon club disounts available. If your Tri Club does not have a code, have a club officer contact us.
Sheltered swim and flat bike and run course make this a perfect place for your first race or a PR. Voted one of the best late season triathlons in the country. The bike ride is a totally closed course and both the bike and run courses follow the coastline to create one of the most scenic races around! (Pending approval of the 2025 bike course)
Stick around and play for a day at the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or visit the Surfer Museum or National Marine Sanctuary Center.
Participants will receive a finisher medal and custom t-shirt as part of their registration, plus a post race lunch and awards.
The Sandman Triathlon is one of Santa Cruz County’s oldest triathlons, having held its inaugural race in 1985, in the infancy of the sport.
The Sandman is a fundraiser for:
the local State Parks,
Lifeguard operations,
the Junior Lifeguard program.
Proceeds help fund scholarships for underprivileged kids so they can receive high-quality water safety education.
The Sandman Triathlon is a USAT-sanctioned event.
The inaugural Apple City 5k!
Come run fun easy trails and be a part of the Watsonville community!
Going back to the roots of farming in Watsonville, the Apple City 5k at Pinto Lake County Park is a dedication to agricultural history and life of the Pajaro Valley.
Participants will experience the scenic meadows and trails of the county park, with gentle trails circling the whole park.
The kids 1k will go around the soccer fields near the starting/finish line.
This race is hosted by the Santa Cruz Track Club Fall Race series with 50% of funds going to the Pajaro Valley Education Foundation to support the students of the Pajaro Valley.
This is a fundraiser for Life Services Alternatives which provides homes and services for the I/DD community in the Bay Area.
Please register to race and donate, or just donate!
Life Services Alternatives Run Home
Life Services Alternatives celebrates 22 years after opening their first home with a Live Race Event
Race Distances -- 5K, 10K
Virtual Run Distances - 5k, 10k - for those who are unable to join on race day.
Register early before price goes up and to secure your T-shirt (Shirt sizes subject to availability). Take advantage of $5 early bird special discount until June 3rd.
Register for LSA's Run Home Here!
Life Services Alternatives, Inc sponsors this race and is the beneficiary. All participants are encouraged to donate and or raise funds for the Life Services Alternatives cause. If you are not a runner or are unable to run you are still available to donate to Life Services Alternatives!
About Life Services Alternatives
Life Services Alternatives provides exceptional community living and programs for adults with developmental disabilities.
In our county, there is a housing shortage for adults with development disabilities. In the past 4 years, over 40 programs have closed due staffing issues, low government rates and the high cost of living in the Silicon Valley. A high percentage of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with their parents. Unfortunately, parents age, have health issues, or they can no longer care for their adult child. Parents worry about who will take care of their adult child when they no longer can.
Life Services Alternatives helps to alleviate those worries. We opened our first three homes in 2004 in Santa Clara. It was a goal of Life Services Alternatives to establish homes where residents could grow and thrive in a non-institutional setting. We currently have 15 licensed homes throughout Santa Clara County (San Jose, Campbell, Santa Clara and Morgan Hill) that are home to men and women who are developmentally disabled. Our residents’ range in age from 20 to 80 years old with a wide range of disabilities. 16th home is in the process of renovation and retrofitting to meet the community home standards. Five of our fifteen homes are for individuals who have special health care needs and intensive support needs. Our remaining nine homes, are home to residents who need 24-hour a day, non-medical care and supervision. It is Life Services Alternatives goal to continue to open new homes in our county where residents can live their best possible lives. Your support is needed to reach our
goal. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will help change the lives of a developmentally disabled adult.
Stronger Together: 5th Annual 1k/5k Walk-Run
Early Bird Pricing and Family Pack, Available Now-Until August 15, 2026!
Same Day Registration is Available between 8:00 am and 9:00 am Day of the Event
Sunday, September 20th at Aptos High School Track and Field
The Stronger Together Walk-Run is a community awareness and fundraising event held annually at Aptos High School to mark the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Now in its fifth year, the event features a 1k and 5k course, children’s activities, music, food trucks, community resource tables, raffles, and team prizes. Organized by Monarch Services, the event promotes wellness, solidarity, and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking across Santa Cruz County.
Event opens 8:00 am- Same Day Registration and food trucks 8:00 to 9:00 am, welcome and stretch. 9:00 am 1k race begins and 5k immediately after. Dance performance, community activities and food trucks during the event.
Experience the thrill of 10th Annual SJVRC ONE MILE FOR ONE CHILD Charity Running Event. Join us along with other fellow runners around the world of all ages and skill levels to promote running and embrace a healthy lifestyle, while raising funds to support the less fortunate children in Vietnam and Thailand. We are too far to touch hands but not too far to touch hearts.
Please join us in person, or virtual, on Sunday, September 20th, 2026 at Almaden Lake Park (Arroyo Picnic Area). The address of the park is 5989 Winfield Blvd, San Jose, CA 95123.
Check in time: 7 - 8AM
The race will start at 8:30AM.
LITTLE WHARF REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
On September 26, 2026, Wharf to Wharf Race, Inc. is producing the 8th Running of the Little Wharf 3-Miler as a part of the Capitola Beach Festival weekend. The festival will kick off on Saturday morning with a point-to-point family fun run/walk starting at the East Cliff Village Shopping Center and running three miles along the Santa Cruz coastline, before finishing in the Capitola Esplanade.
When: September 26, 2026
Distance/Location: 3 miles point to point from Santa Cruz to Capitola (East Cliff Village Shopping Center to Capitola Esplanade).
What do you get? All race finishers get a Little Wharf Finishers Medal, Personalized Bib Number, an Event Bag, PATH water bottle, and a cookie from Pacific Cookie Company.
The Santa Cruz Triathlon is a popular, scenic, non-profit race offering Sprint and International (Olympic) distances, plus relays, aquabike, and an aquathlon option, known for its coastal course along West Cliff Drive and along Highway 1. Its an ocean swim around the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf, a spacious transition area on a soccer field, then riding out along West Cliff and Highway 1 to the quaint town of Davenport and back. Then finish with a beautiful run along West Cliff and finish on Cowells Beach.
This is great for beginners and veterans alike, with proceeds funding local high school and college athletics in Santa Cruz County. It's a long-running event that donates significantly to youth sports, featuring a sheltered ocean swim and largely closed-course bike and run, creating a fun, community-focused event.
Run by the Sea returns to lovely Wilder Ranch State Park on Sunday, October 4th! This unique Half Marathon, 12K run, and 4K run/walk meanders along the gorgeous coastal bluffs of California's Central Coast in Santa Cruz and consists mostly of flat, packed dirt trails. Participants will enjoy scenic coastal views while passing along the bluffs and Wilder Ranch park trails. Get ready to take in the natural beauty of the Monterey Bay, the serene flats of Wilder Ranch's meadows, and maybe even catch a glimpse of some dolphins - no other race is quite like it!
Now in its 10th year, Run by the Sea is organized by the Santa Cruz Track Club and benefits the track club's youth program, Bike Santa Cruz County, and Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewards.
Race Headquarters and Parking
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4K Route
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12K Route
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Half Marathon Route