22nd Race into the New Year 5k & 1/4 Mile Fun Dash 2026

The New Year's Race begins and ends at the Rehoboth Beach bandstand, located where Rehoboth Avenue intersects the boardwalk and the ocean. Organized by the Seashore Striders, this year-end 5k run/walk includes a free 1/4-mile dash for children 9 and under. The 5k commences at noon, following the kids' race which starts shortly beforehand. Now in its 22nd year, the event feels like a local New Year's Eve tradition rather than a standalone holiday run. The 5k follows a straightforward out-and-back course. Participants depart from the boardwalk, proceed north, and turn around at Gordon's Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park before heading back to the bandstand. The kids' dash does not require registration and does not include a shirt, maintaining a casual atmosphere for families. Packet pickup occurs at the bandstand the day prior, and organizers permit friends or relatives to collect packets for others. This arrangement is helpful as race morning transitions quickly from registration to the kids' dash and the 5k start.