Five days before the adults compete in the big race on Thanksgiving morning, local boys and girls will have the opportunity to run in their own “Little Manchester Road Race.”
The Manchester Road Race Committee will again sponsor the children’s event on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. at the Manchester High School track. Manchester High School is located at 134 East Middle Turnpike in Manchester.
The popular event features several fun runs of varying distances for children ages 12 and under. There will also be entertainment including a skydiving exhibition, music, face painting, costumed characters and an emergency vehicle display. All entrants will receive a medal and a knit cap.
There is no entry fee, but participants are requested to bring an item of non-perishable food to the high school for donation to the MACC Charities Emergency Food Pantry. Participants are requested to check the expiration dates of the canned food in order to ensure freshness.
Online registration will be available starting on Nov. 1st at www.manchesterroadrace.com.
Due to space limitations, the event is limited to 1000 runners. “We’re urging parents to sign up their kids as soon as possible”, said Dr. Tris Carta, President of the Manchester Road Race Committee. “It’s a lot of fun, and it’s wonderful to see all these young runners enjoying the excitement and tradition of our road race,” he said.
The Little Manchester Road Race is held annually on the Saturday before the Manchester Road Race presented by Hartford HealthCare is run on Thanksgiving Day.
Henkel, a manufacturer of several popular consumer brands, is the Presenting Sponsor of the Little Manchester Road Race. Fleet Feet, Shop Rite and Waypoint Wealth Solutions are co-sponsors.
More details about the Little Manchester Road Race and the Manchester Road Race, including sponsorship opportunities for the children’s race which remain available, are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.