EVL Halloween Half Marathon, 5k, Half Marathon Relay

The EVL Halloween Half Marathon, 5K, and Half Marathon Relay begins and ends in Ellicottville, a village in western New York’s Southern Tier. These are road races with a Halloween theme, making the day a combination of running and a costume gathering. The half marathon and relay start first, followed shortly by the 5K, and the event also features a kids’ race. It started in 2014, with organizers designing it for runners of various abilities, not exclusively fast club racers. The course heads north from the village onto country roads before returning to Ellicottville for the finish. The EVL Half typically draws nearly 2,000 participants, a significant number for a small community. The field includes competitive age-group runners, relay teams, families, first-time participants, and individuals in Halloween costumes. Awards are presented to top male and female age-group finishers, and a costume contest is also featured. The post-race gathering at Ellicottville Brewing Company provides a local conclusion, rather than the event feeling like it merely uses the town as a setting.