Downtown Manchester will host nearly 15,000 runners and huge crowds of spectators when the Manchester Road Race presented by Hartford HealthCare steps off for the 90th time at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (November 26, 2026).
The iconic holiday road race is run on a 4.737-mile loop course that starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church.
The Manchester Road Race Committee issued an advisory today informing local residents and visitors about street closures, parking restrictions and traffic disruptions that will occur on Thanksgiving Day before and during the road race.
In preparation for the road race, the Manchester Police Department has announced that no on-street parking will be allowed on East Center Street from Lenox Street to Main Street during the overnight period from 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Also, no overnight parking will be permitted on Main Street from East Center Street to Charter Oak Street or Linden Street from Center Street to Chestnut Street during the same period of 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25th through 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. If necessary, vehicles will be towed.
Downtown Main Street will be closed to all traffic between Bissell Street and Maple Street at 5:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning to allow crews to erect fencing and ropes along the roadway. The Main Street closures will be extended from East Center Street to Charter Oak Street beginning at 5:30 a.m.
All local roads intersecting the road race course will be closed to vehicular traffic at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Motorists will not be permitted to enter or leave the streets on the interior of the road race course from 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning until after the race has ended (at approximately 11:30 a.m.). A map of the Manchester Road Race course, which indicates the interior streets that will be affected by the closures, can be viewed on the “Race Information & Rules” page at www.manchesterroadrace.com.
Although private vehicular traffic will be barred from entering or exiting the interior streets of the road race course while the event is being held, officials from the Town of Manchester have extensive plans in place to provide fire, police. and emergency medical services to residents who live in the affected areas.
Exit ramps on I-384 that abut the MRR race course will be closed from 8:45 a.m.-11:30 p.m. These include westbound Exit 4 (Charter Oak Street), westbound Exit 5 (Highland Street), eastbound Exit 4 (Main Street) and eastbound Exit 5 (Wyllys Street). No parking is permitted along the shoulders or median of I-384.
Normal traffic and access on the affected Manchester streets should resume at approximately 11:30 a.m.
“The wellbeing and safety of all our runners and spectators is always our primary concern,” said Dr. Tris Carta, President of the Manchester Road Race Committee. “We are working closely town and state officials to ensure that the 90th running of our road race will be a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.”
“We deeply appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone who might be affected by traffic disruptions and parking restrictions in town on race day,” Carta added. “We want to alert everyone about the road closures along the race route and urge those who live in the affected areas and need to travel on Thanksgiving morning to leave before the roads close at 9 a.m.”
Due to the high volume of traffic expected in Manchester on Thanksgiving morning, the Manchester Road Race Committee will once again offer free shuttle bus transportation to and from the event. The buses will run from the parking lot at the Connecticut Community College at Manchester (formerly Manchester Community College) on Great Path in Manchester before the race and return there after it concludes. More information about the free shuttle service and its schedule of operation can be obtained on “Shuttle, Parking and Rest Rooms” at www.manchesterroadrace.com
IMG_4771.PNG
