Events in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | 2026-2027

Freighter Festival of Races [runsignup.com]
Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Description

SELLS OUT AT 200-250 PARTICIPANTS (Finalized 4-6 weeks out from race day)

RESULTS LINK 2025

Celebrate the opening weekend of the Freighters passing through the Soo Locks for the beginning of the...

SELLS OUT AT 200-250 PARTICIPANTS (Finalized 4-6 weeks out from race day)

RESULTS LINK 2025

Celebrate the opening weekend of the Freighters passing through the Soo Locks for the beginning of the shipping season! Yooper Running Company is hosting the 2nd Annual Freighter Festival of Races in downtown Sault Sainte Marie! There will be a 5K Run, 5K Walk, and Half Marathon Run. The races will start at 9:00am. The courses will run East along the St. Mary's River to catch some views of upbound and downbound freighters! NEW START/FINISH AREA: Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours at 515 E Portage Ave next to the Pullar Ice Arena and the Museum Ship Valley Camp.

5K Run and 5K Walk Registration Prices + Option for $20 Long Sleeve T-Shirt

2025 - $20

January 2026 - $25

February 2026 - $30

March 1 to March 26 - $35

March 27-28 - $40

Half Marathon Prices + Option for $20 Long Sleeve T-Shirt

2025 - $40

January 2026 - $50

February 2026 - $55

March 1 to March 26 - $60

March 27-28 until 8pm - $65

Long Sleeve T-Shirt Cutoff: $20.00/Long Sleeve T-Shirt. Select Size T-Shirts will be for sale at packet pickup.

Early Packet Pickup: There will be an early packet pickup from 4-7pm on Friday at the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours (515 E Portage Ave, SSM, MI, 49783). Arrive early to pick up your bib and t-shirt. Additional t-shirts available for purchase. New in 2026: Pasties from Yooper Pasty on sale during packet pickup!

Race Day Packet Pickup: Race Day Packet Pickup will be available from 7:30-8:45am near the start/finish area at the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours at 515 E Portage Ave. There is a large parking lot there!

Awards (5K Run, 5K Walk, and Half-Marathon) All participants will receive a unique freighter medal. Long Sleeve T-Shirts are available to purchase with online registration. There will be select sizes available for purchase at packet pickup.

Overall Award for Gender, Masters, and Grand Masters: Custom Mug from Bricco Designs, 12oz coffee bag from Drummond Island Coffee. Overall Gender Winners will receive 2 free tickets to a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tour as well.

Age Group Awards 1st Place: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+. Custom Mug from Bricco Designs, 4oz coffee bag from Drummond Island Coffee.

Hotels: Please check the following website for a list of lodging options. There are many hotels within several miles of downtown. Sault Sainte Marie Hotels and Motels

Restrooms: There are plenty of indoor restrooms available inside the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours Building. Their building is within 50 meters of the start/finish. There will be 1 porta potty on course near the Riverside Cemetery that is located around the 4mile/9.1mile mark of the half marathon.

Aid Stations: There will be 5 aid stations with water, Gatorade, and snacks throughout the half-marathon course. Aid Stations will be located at:

Aid Station 1 and 5: 1.55 mile mark (5k turnaround North Side of Road) / 11.55 mile mark (South Side of Road)

Aid Station 2 and 4 (McLeod Residence): 3.1 mile mark (McLeod Northeast Side of Road) / 10 mile mark (McLeod Southwest Side of Road)

Sponsored by Jess Johnston of Five Water Realty, and Jason McLeod

Aid Station 3: 6.55 mile mark (half-marathon turnaround).

Volunteers: We will need volunteers for packet pickup (needed), aid stations (LSSU Kinesiology Club), traffic intersections/turns, and awards table. Free or discounted entries for current or future races available. Email yooperrunning@gmail.com if interested.

3.1 Miles 13.1 Miles Indoor Run Walk
107 E Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 49783, United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps

YRC Earth Day 5K [runsignup.com]
Wed, Apr 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Description

Celebrate Earth Day with an affordable ($15) and sustainable 5K Run/Walk from Bird's Eye Outfitters in downtown Sault Sainte Marie on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026! All entrants receive a token for $1...

Celebrate Earth Day with an affordable ($15) and sustainable 5K Run/Walk from Bird's Eye Outfitters in downtown Sault Sainte Marie on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026! All entrants receive a token for $1 off a beverage at Bird's Eye Outfitters and and a choice of a leftover medal from one of the Yooper Running Company races. Bring "anything but a cup" to fill up your drink. Bring your empty cans/glasses/bottles to donate towards Outhouse Consortium, a non-profit organization that is focused on the development and maintenance of trails in the area. All race results will be provided via Yooper Running Company with overall awards for the top 3 runners in each gender. YRC T-Shirts will be discounted and available for purchase with cash or venmo on race day!

Race Registration Prices

February 2026: $10 + Fees

March/April: $15 + Fees

Race Start: 6pm on Wednesday, April 22!

Packet Pick Up: Pick up your bibs starting at 4:30pm on race day at 107 E Portage Avenue, SSM, MI, 49783!

Live Results: yooperrunning.com

Wanna Race Eh!

3.1 Miles 5k Run Trail Walk
107 E Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 49783, United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
Kokosing Alberici Traylor Engineers Day 5K [yooperrunning.com] [Register at runsignup.com]
Fri, Jun 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Description

2025 Results

Come experience Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, to its fullest during Engineers Day Weekend. Visit the Soo Locks downtown starting at 9am on Friday, June 26th, for a celebration of the...

2025 Results

Come experience Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, to its fullest during Engineers Day Weekend. Visit the Soo Locks downtown starting at 9am on Friday, June 26th, for a celebration of the engineering feats Sault Sainte Marie has to offer. Later that evening join Yooper Running Company and others at the Ashmun Bay Boat Launch to run/walk a 100% soft surface 5K with views of freighters, the power canal, and the international bridge. The 5K race will begin at 6:00pm. Race Day Bib/Packet Pickup will begin at 4:00pm near the boat launch parking lot area. An early packet pickup will be taking place on Thursday evening from 4-8pm at Birdseye Outfitters. Each participant will receive a medal, post race refreshments, and the chance to win age group awards. A Kokosing Alberici Traylor Engineers Day 5K T-Shirt option is available during online registration for an extra $15. The following day after the race there is an International Bridge Walk that participants are encouraged to go to from Sault

Sainte Marie, Michigan, to Sault Sainte Marie, Canada (shuttle fees applicable).

Registration Prices *Additional $15 for T-Shirt Option

2025: $25.00

January 1 - May 31, 2025: $30.00

June 1, 2024 - June 25, 2025: $35.00

Race Day Registration Online or on site until 5:30pm: $40.00 (Exact Change CASH ONLY or Venmo)

Course Information

Ashmun Bay Boat Launch to Ted Caffey Memorial Trail to South Street and Back. 100% soft surface consisting of gravel road and snowmobile trail. Views of Ashmun Bay, Freighters, start of the power canal, international bridge, and shoreline foliage.

Age Groups and Overall Awards

Age group awards will be given out to 1st place in the following divisions: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Overall winner awards will be given to the Top Male and Female, Top Master's (40+), and Top Grandmaster's (60+)

Finish Line

Enjoy water, Gatorade, bananas, watermelon, bags of chips, and fruit snacks

Onsite and online results will be provided by Yooper Running Company. Chip timing via Race Result Duo Transponders will be used for scoring and results with a common start/finish timing mat. A results link will be sent closer to race day so you can view your results at the completion of the results.

Male Course Record: Gabe Litzner, 16:02.91, 2024

Female Course Record: Cassandra Gallagher, 20:20.02, 2024

2024 Results

5k Gravel Run Trail Walk
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 49783, United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
7 Bridges 7 Brews [runsignup.com]
Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Description

2025 Results Link

Come experience historic Sault Sainte Marie by running or walking a 5k or 10k spanning all 7 bridges that connect the downtown island area. Then, enjoy some brews at Bird's Eye...

2025 Results Link

Come experience historic Sault Sainte Marie by running or walking a 5k or 10k spanning all 7 bridges that connect the downtown island area. Then, enjoy some brews at Bird's Eye Outfitters at the official ISLAND THEMED post-race party including live entertainment. Athletic Brewing and Les Cheneaux Distillery will be in town as our brew sponsors to add to your enjoyment with their tantalizing selection of 7 brews! Proceeds benefit OUT House Consortium, a non-profit organization, to develop, maintain and promote the non-motorized trail systems in the Sault Sainte Marie area. A donation button is available for anyone who is or is not partaking in the run or walk but still want to support the improvement of our recreation trails.

The 7 Bridges 7 Brews 5k Run/Walk and 10k Run will begin at 7:00 pm on LSSU campus. The races finish downtown at Bird's Eye Outfitters about 1 mile away. Plan accordingly as there is parking downtown and near the start area on LSSU campus. Any course updates due to construction in the area will be communicated prior to race day.

Packet pickup and race day registration will be available at Bird's Eye Outfitters on Friday, July 18 from 5-8pm and on Race Day July 19 from 4:00pm-6:30pm. We will send an email out to all registered participants when closer.

There will be overall awards for the 1st place gender finishers and 1st place master (40+) finishers. Overall awards can be picked up in a designated location after official results have posted. 1st place in each age group will also receive an award. Age groups are as follows: 1-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.

Results will be chip timed with a gun start. Results will be posted on yooperrunning.com. All participants will receive a unique medal, custom tumbler from Bricco Designs, drink token, and an invite to the post race party. There will be an ISLAND THEMED party, live entertainment, food and drinks for purchase...Not to mention 7 of the best beers!

5k 10k Run Trail Walk
107 E Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 49783, United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
Sault International Festival of Races [runsignup.com]
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Description

The 5 Mile International Bridge Run on Day 1 is a RUN. You are required to maintain a pace of 15 minutes per mile or faster in order to ensure the International Bridge can open back up in the...

The 5 Mile International Bridge Run on Day 1 is a RUN. You are required to maintain a pace of 15 minutes per mile or faster in order to ensure the International Bridge can open back up in the appropriate time. This is NOT A WALK. Those who walk the entire course and are struggling to maintain pace may be asked to stop and receive a shuttle from the International Bridge Authority. There is a free annual walking event over the International Bridge in late June that usually coincides with Engineers Day. There is a 5K Walk downtown that DOES NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE on Day 2 with its own division.

The 2026 Sault International Festival of Races will take place September 26-27, 2026. Races will begin at 8:00am on both Saturday (5 Mile Bridge Run) and Sunday (Half Marathon, 5K Run, and 5K Walk). For those traveling from Canada make sure to note the bridge will have a specific closing time prior to the race (7:45-9:45am). Give yourself additional time in case of a traffic backup. The last event took place in 2025 which saw 720 participants take part in multiple races. The 5 Mile Bridge Run will run across the International Bridge on day 1 (Saturday) starting and finishing on the historic campus of LSSU. The start/finish area will now be at the LSSU Arts Center. There are views of the Soo Locks, LSSU, the St. Mary's Rapids, passing freighters, and more! There will be a half-marathon and 5k that DO NOT CROSS the International Bridge on Day 2 (Sunday) that will start/finish near the heart of downtown Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. Participants wanting to participate in both Day 1

and Day 2 races are required to register for each race separately.

You will want to carry an ID in case of a medical emergency. A passport is not required while running but recommended. All citizens traveling from Canada will still need a passport in order to travel into the US. We recommend that participants look into purchasing 1 day international health insurance from their providers. Emergency personnel will transport participants to the nearest hospital (Canada or US) in the case of a health emergency on the bridge during Day 1.

3.1 Miles 5 Miles 13.1 Miles Run Walk
107 E Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 49783, United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps

5 running and walking events in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

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