7 walking events in Traverse City, Michigan
From big races to Saturday morning group runs—find walking events and connect with the local endurance sports community.
Traverse City
7 events in Traverse City-
Sun, Apr 12, 2026 at 8:30 AMSee full details
Like Running or Walking? Love Wine? These races are for you!
Join us on Sunday, April 12, 2026 with start times available at 8:30am and 10:30am (you will select your start time during registration). Make sure to secure a spot early because both waves will sell out! This event features the scenic views and amazing wines of Mari Vineyards! Located on lovely Old Mission Peninsula just north of Traverse City, Michigan. Mari Vineyards is dedicated to making exquisite red and white wine from experimental Italian grapes alongside traditionally grown appellation varieties. Whether you are looking to run, walk or just enjoy the wine these races are a sure thing for a great time and an incredible experience! This race will be timed and scored by J3 Timing. Results will be posted at www.J3Timing.com.
Registration Includes:
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T-shirt: Super Soft Ring Spun Cotton t-shirt included!
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Wine Glass: Shatterproof, Collapsible, and Portable!
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Finisher Medal: Doubles as a Wine Stopper!
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Race Bib: Chip timed 5k run/walk
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Results Posted Online
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...and of course, a pour of wine!
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Sat, Jun 20, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
TART Trails and Up North Pride are hosting the annual Rainbow Run, a color fun run and fundraiser around the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. On June 20, 2026, the event will celebrate the trail systems and the Northern Michigan 2SLGBTQ+ Community during Pride Month. Participants and spectators will be invited to Hull Park to enjoy music and refreshments before and after the run.
The run/walk route will take participants counterclockwise around the 4-mile Boardman Lake Loop Trail. There will be five distinct and separated stations along the route for participants to receive their colors. All participants who register by May 30th will receive a branded white t-shirt. We will be using a powder made of colored cornstarch that will be human, fish, and environment-friendly and will wash out after a rain to have no long-lasting effects on the park or the City infrastructure. The trail will stay open for public use so please be kind to other trail users.
When
Friday, June 19, 2026 - packet pick up | Fleet Feet, downtown Traverse City
4:00-7:00 pm | packet pick up / check-in
Saturday, June 20, 2026 - race day | Hull Park, Boardman Lake Loop Trail
8:00 am | late packet pick up / check in
9:00 am | run / walk start
12:00 pm | event ends
Where
Hull Park | 660 Hannah Ave, Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Route
The run/walk route will take participants counterclockwise around the 4-mile Boardman Lake Loop Trail. Water and bathrooms will be available at Hull Park and Medalie Park. Five distinct color stations will also offer water along the route.
Waves
Participants will identify themselves as runners or walkers at check-in and will be assigned a wave. There will be 8 waves that start 2 minutes apart. Each wave will be limited to 50 participants. There will be designated waiting areas for each wave.
This is done so people will generally start and run/walk most of the event near people of their own abilities and speeds. This will also prevent participants from waiting in line to receive their color spray at each color station along the route.
Who benefits
Proceeds will be split between Up North Pride and TART Trails
What is the cost?
Pre-Registration | $25 Student (17 and under) / $30 Adult (18+) | must register by May 30th to guarantee a t-shirt & early bird pricing
May 31st price increase | $30 Student (17 and under) / $35 Adult (18+)
Parking & Bathrooms
Public Parking is available across the street from the Traverse Area District Library, at the Department of Public Services (DPS) at 625 Woodmere Ave. (The large back lot is accessible from Hannah Ave.) For safety, we ask that you use either the crosswalk directly in front of the library, or at the Woodmere/Hannah intersection. There is also limited pull-in parking along the railroad tracks on the east side of Hull Park.
The Public Restrooms in Hull Park open around 7 am. There are also restrooms just inside the library, which opens at 9am, and at Medalie Park on the far side of the course.
Packet Pick Up
Join us for packet pick up on Friday, June 19 between 4 to 7 pm at Fleet Feet in downtown Traverse City! Grab your t-shirt, wave assignment and stick around for lots of fun. Check-in and packet pick up will also be available Saturday morning at Hull Park beginning at 8 am.
Training Programs
Are you new to running? There are great training groups and fun run/walks offered by our local sponsors and community partners:
Fleet Feet run/walk groups, more info here
Traverse City Track Club weekly fun runs, more info here
Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of Up North Pride and TART Trails, volunteer sign up is coming soon!
Inclement Weather Information
In the event of inclement weather (thunder, lightning, threatening rain), we may postpone or cancel the Rainbow Run. Please check your email on the morning of the event for updates. TART Trails and Up North Pride will also post updates to social media channels if needed. In the event of cancellation or postponement, your registration fee is non-refundable and will be considered a tax-deductible donation to TART Trails and Up North Pride.
The 2026 Rainbow Run is presented by JenTees Custom Logo Gear and Molina Healthcare.
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Sat, Jul 25, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
Join us July 25, 2026 in Traverse City, MI for the Great Lakes Cancer Foundation 5k and kids 1 mile fun run to help raise awareness, funds, and hope for any and all that have been affected by Cancer. At the Great Lakes Cancer Foundation, our mission is to remove financial barriers for at-risk individuals seeking essential cancer screenings and diagnostic services. We believe everyone deserves access to early detection, and we’re here to make it possible.
The festivities will start at 8am with our kids untimed 1 mile race! This race will take place from Eastern elementary down Eastern Ave as a safe out and back on the sidewalk. The out and back style course will allow the kiddos to high five and smile at one another while they cheer and run their way back to the finish at Eastern Elementary.
The 5k will start and end at Eastern Elementary School at 8:30am. The flat fast course will take you past an aid station around mile one, running past the shore of the beautiful East Bay, and looping back to the Elementary School where you will be cheered across the finish line by all our supporting partners and volunteers! Come join the fun!
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Fri, Sep 04, 2026 at 6:15 PMSee full details
About the Event:
Come celebrate the Boardman Lake Loop Trail! The Traverse City Track Club presents Loop The Lake, a 4-mile, 8-mile, and 2-person relay trail race around Boardman Lake, just south of downtown Traverse City. The race will follow the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, which includes mostly pavement, as well as some gravel, bridges, and boardwalks.
The 4 mile event is open to runners and walkers. The 8 mile event is recommended for runners only.
Course closes at 8pm sharp!
Distance:
4 miles Exactly! This race has been certified by the USATF.
The individual 8 mile and relay (2 people run 4 miles each - 1 at a time) will be slightly over 8 miles.
Giveaway:
Everyone receives a Loop The Lake Racetracker Technical Run-Dri Running Cap along with some snacks and beverages.
Awards:
The top 3 overall and top 3 masters (40+) for male and female in the 4-mile and 8-mile event will receive a custom plate hand-crafted at ClaySpacetc just down the road!
Age group top 3 (5-year age groups to 80 and up) for the 4-mile and 8-mile event will receive a custom clay Loop The Lake 2025 medal.
Relay awards for top male team, female team, coed team, masters* male team, masters* female team, and masters* coed team.
*Masters teams are a combined age of 100+
About the Course:
The race will follow the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, starting and finishing in Hull Park on the north side of the lake. The east side is a heavily wooded segment featuring gentle curves and a mix of pavement, boardwalk, and some gravel surface. The southern end features two bridges over the Boardman/Ottway River and an extended boardwalk over the Boardman Lake Cove (pictured above). The west side is pavement, and the northern end features one bridge over the Boardman River.
Check out the map here! We will be running in a clockwise direction.
The course will be open to the general public; however, the upcoming race will be heavily announced and signage provided for the public's awareness.
Start Details:
The race will include a wave start at Hull Park. Runners will be asked to line up according to their estimated finish time.
Wave Starts:
We want to ensure a safe and great experience for all participants. We will utilize a wave start on an honor basis (participants will line up according to their expected finish time) to distribute runners and walkers on the trail. Volunteers will be on hand to help determine waves.
Parking:
Loop the Lake is an Urban Trail race. While there will not be parking available within Hull Park, there are many parking options nearby within walking distance, including multiple parking decks. Please do not park at any apartment complexes or within the Brick Wheels parking lot.
Packet Pickup/Late Registration - Hull Park:
Packet Pickup begins at 4pm on Friday, September 4th right at Hull Park! Online registration will be open up until 5:45pm on race day. QR codes will be available to signup online at the event. No cash or paper registration available.
Background:
"This beautiful and highly anticipated Loop is the product of meaningful, high-impact collaboration, years of support, gumption, and hard work from many facets of the community. Thanks to the passion and persistence of countless individuals and trail project partners, the Loop is now a reality and serves as the crown jewel and centerpiece of the TART Trails network. We are thrilled to share this monumental moment with the community" (TART Trails website).
The Boardman Lake Trail is owned by the City of Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and Garfield Township. TART Trails works with the City, County, and Township to support the development and maintenance of the trail.
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Sat, Sep 19, 2026 at 9:15 AM
3rd Annual More Than Four 5.04k Run/Walk | Founded by Conor Rigan
*Event details are pending please check back or sign up for our newsletter!
For more information, visit our website at www.morethanfourfoundation.org, follow us on Facebook, or contact us at [email protected].
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Sat, Oct 31, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
The Traverse City Track Club Zombie Run is a Halloween tradition! Over the years we’ve seen zombies from all walks of life, or should we say death. Who or what will show up this year? Right Brain Brewery will be hosting the run as always. Zombies and beer have always been a winning combination! Make sure to stick around after the race for the medal ceremony, costume prizes, music, post-race refreshments, and most of all zombie socializing!
You’ll collect your survival kit (a.k.a. race packet) at Right Brain Brewery.
Early Packet Pickup: Friday, October 30 from 5–7 PM. Pick up your bib, dodge a few zombies, and if you’d like, stick around to enjoy a Right Brain brew while you’re there.
Race Day Pickup: Saturday, October 31 from 7–8:45 AM. Quick in, quick out.
More FAQs can be found here!
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Sun, Dec 20, 2026 at 5:30 PMSee full details
Traverse City Track Club’s Jingle Bell Run: 5:30pm - Sunday, December 20, 2026
The Jingle Bell Run is a nighttime holiday run that tours favorite neighborhood streets bordering downtown Traverse City that are adorned in holiday lights and decorations. The event welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities donned in festive holiday costumes. It is a fun and festive, family-friendly event.
The Jingle Bell Run is a non-timed 5k run/walk, followed by complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, holiday cheer, and social time. The event, free to current TCTC members, is a reunion to welcome family and friends over the holiday season and enjoy the downtown Traverse City running scene in the winter season. The Jingle Bell Run typically averages over 600 participants!
Schedule for Sunday, December 21st:
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Packet pickup begins at 4:30 p.m. (Park Place Hotel)
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Run begins at 5:30 p.m. (Park Place Hotel)
Distance: 5K
Course: Neighborhood streets adjacent to downtown Traverse City. Not timed.
Fee: Free to 2026 TCTC members (must become a member or renew your membership by October 31, 2026)
Special Details:
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Wear your favorite holiday attire, including lights! Costume prizes thanks to our friends at Lululemon.
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Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies after the run thanks to the Traverse City Track Club!
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Everyone receives a custom Jingle Bell Run ornament made my our friends at ClaySpaceTC.
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Don't forget to upload your selfies, costumes, and other pictures on our photo page!
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Registrants will have the opportunity to donate during registration to the Traverse City Track Club, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and support programming.
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Local Clubs & Organizations
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Club
USA Swimming Club. 75 members.
[email protected] +1 608-345-5264