Cleveland Metroparks sets expanded 2026 race series schedule with seven events across parks and zoo

Seven events, multiple locations, and a yearlong footprint

Cleveland Metroparks has announced an expanded 2026 Cleveland Metroparks Race Series presented by CrossCountry Mortgage, outlining seven timed runs and walk-friendly events staged across Cleveland Metroparks reservations and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The series begins in April and extends through early December, continuing the system’s strategy of using organized recreation to drive park and zoo visitation across seasons.

The 2026 schedule keeps several recurring races while adding a Halloween-themed event and an “After Hours” race date at the Zoo with details not yet announced. As in prior years, the lineup mixes lakefront, zoo-campus and trail-adjacent courses, and links several events to specific park or zoo programs.

2026 Cleveland Metroparks Race Series: dates and venues

• Earth Day 5K — April 18, 2026, 8:30 a.m., Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• After Hours 5K — July 21, 2026, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (details yet to be announced)
• Whiskey Island 5K — August 23, 2026, Whiskey Island Trail/Wendy Park area
• Future For Wildlife 5K — October 4, 2026, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• Halloween 5K — October 24, 2026, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• Veterans 5K — November 8, 2026, Edgewater Beach
• Ugly Sweater 5K — December 6, 2026, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Fees, incentives and program tie-ins

Organizers set pre-registration at $30 per race. The series also offers a bundled option to register for all seven events, advertised as a $35 savings. For the Earth Day 5K, pre-registration is available through April 17, and the event package includes Zoo admission for participants, refreshments, a race shirt and a finisher medal. Cleveland Metroparks has said a portion of Earth Day 5K proceeds will support green practices and sustainability efforts at the Zoo.

The race series is designed to encourage exploration and exercise throughout the year, with events spanning both the Zoo and multiple Metroparks locations.

What’s new in 2026 and what remains unresolved

The most significant change is the jump to seven events, expanding the series’ calendar reach and adding a second October race weekend at the Zoo. The Whiskey Island 5K remains connected to support for the Cleveland Metroparks K-9 unit, while the Future For Wildlife 5K again centers on zoo conservation fundraising.

One key open question is the After Hours 5K on July 21. While the date and location are listed, course logistics, start time, and participant benefits have not yet been released. Additional operational details—such as capacity limits, parking plans and any road or trail impacts—typically determine how smoothly high-participation events function in mixed-use park spaces.

Separately, Cleveland Metroparks has also scheduled its 2026 Trail Challenge from March 1 through Sept. 30, a non-race participation program that encourages completion of designated trails across multiple reservations—creating a broader spring-to-fall fitness calendar alongside the formal race series.