Lights on the Lake 5K 2026
- Date
- Race weekend: Saturday to Sunday, November 21 to 22, 2026
- Start time
- 6:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Liverpool, New York
- Entry fee
- From $35 · goes up to $40 on Oct 30, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a hat
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 | ||||
| 5K Walk | 5K | Nov 21, 20266:00 AM | $35$40 after Oct 30, 2026 | 850 |
| Sunday, Nov 22, 2026 | ||||
| 5K Run | 5K | Nov 22, 20266:00 AM | $35$40 after Oct 30, 2026 | 850 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $40 on Oct 30, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K Walk: $35 until Oct 29, then $40 until Nov 21.
- 5K Run: $35 until Oct 29, then $40 until Nov 22.
Online registration closes Nov 22, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in New York, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Liverpool runs 33:22, about 10:44 a mile, based on 13 races with published results. Women typically finish in 35:33 and men in 30:20.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:04 AM, and the 5K Walk starts at 6:00 AM. The start sits about 410 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
106 Lake Drive, Liverpool, NY 13088
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (3 years)Aggregated from official results (Leone Timing) for Lights on the Lake 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Lights on the Lake 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 25:08 or better, the top quarter in 28:35, and half the field in 33:06; the last tenth came in after 47:32.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 22:48 | 18:29 |
| 20-29 | 23:34 | 23:04 |
| 30-39 | 23:15 | 19:13 |
| 40-49 | 23:41 | 20:12 |
| 50-59 | 26:26 | 26:28 |
| 60-69 | 27:59 | 29:55 |
| 70+ | 40:27 | n/a |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Down 8 percent since 2023.
All events combined, from official results.
Lights on the Lake 5K 5K year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 733 to 674 finishers, and the median time dropped from 37:14 to 33:06.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 674 (-7%) | 33:06 | under 25:08 | 17:45 |
| 2024 | 723 (-1%) | 34:04 | under 25:33 | 17:01 |
| 2023 | 733 | 37:14 | under 25:09 | 17:22 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for New York 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:35, against 27:55 in a typical New York 5K, so times here are about average.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around November 21 the day usually runs from 31°F at dawn to 43°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 35% of days. Cold snaps dip to 25°F and hot years reach 52°F.
Based on 85 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 106 Lake Drive, Liverpool, NY 13088Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 410 feet
- Included with entry
- Buff; Beanie
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 21, 2026), 2025 (Nov 22, 2025), 2024 (Nov 23, 2024), 2023 (Nov 19, 2023), 2022 (Nov 20, 2022), 2021 (Nov 21, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Lights on the Lake 5K?
- It is a race weekend, Saturday to Sunday, November 21 to 22, 2026: 5K on Saturday; 5K on Sunday.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Oct 30, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 22, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for New York?
- At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in New York, which costs $30 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a hat, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 674 runners finished the 5K Run; the median finish was 33:06 and the winner ran 17:45.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:35, against 27:55 in a typical New York 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 106 Lake Drive, Liverpool, NY 13088.
From the organizers
Lights on the Lake 5K!
Celebrate the 37th Anniversary of Wegmans Lights on the Lake with a 5K!
5K Walk Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 6:00am
Get ready for the holiday season by walking through the magical Lights on the Lake. This early morning 5K walk will start at 6:00am- before sunrise so that you can enjoy the beauty of all of the light displays! The walk will start at the Salt Museum Parking Lot within Onondaga Lake Park. Each participant will receive a buff!
The walk will be capped at 750 participants.
5K Run Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 6:00am