Author: Saratoga TODAY

The Firecracker 4 Race will celebrate its 20th anniversary at this year’s event. Proceeds from the Firecracker 4 benefit trail development, recreation programs, and other healthy lifestyle programs.

To help prepare adult and teen runners for the race, a twice-weekly training program in Saratoga Springs begins on June 11. Runs through local neighborhoods will be held on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. Outdoor track workouts at Saratoga Springs High School will be held on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. The program will offer a combination of speed work, hill training, and course previews. 

On race day, preceding the Firecracker 4 race, the Sparkler Run for young children begins at 8:15 a.m. on Maple Avenue behind the Saratoga Springs City Center. This short 0.2-mile race is held on the final segment of the main race, so kids experience the fun of crossing the real finish line. Parents or older siblings are welcome to accompany their young runners

The Firecracker 4 four-mile race starts at 9 a.m. on Broadway in front of the City Center, proceeds through the downtown shopping district, and then winds through the streets of Saratoga’s East Side neighborhood, where numerous bands will play on street corners and residents cheer and set up garden-hose misting stations to benefit the runners. 

Participants finish this Independence Day race under a giant American flag hoisted by the Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa Fire Departments. Continuing for 2026 is a Team Village in the Ellsworth Jones lot behind the City Center where teams may set up canopies prior to the race where their athletes may gather.

Registration is open at firecracker4.com for both the Firecracker 4 ($43.33, including the processing fee) and the Sparkler Run ($6.30, inclusive of fee). Packet pick-up will be July 2 (Fleet Feet in Albany, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.); July 3 (Fleet Feet in Malta, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.); and at the Saratoga Springs City Center on July 4 beginning at 7 a.m.

The inaugural iRun Half Marathon in downtown Saratoga Springs will occur on Sunday, September 20th at 8:00AM. The race will begin in Congress Park and finish in High Rock Park, navigating the Saratoga Greenbelt system, Spa State Park, and Saratoga Springs’ iconic landmarks and neighborhoods.

“We wanted to create a new half marathon in Saratoga Springs that showcases the very best of the running routes that locals like myself enjoy everyday,” said founder Jamie Mastroianni. “From horse racing heritage to the Congress Park Carousel to SPAC and the beautiful Spa State Park, the scenery is the star of this half marathon course.”

Druthers will host an after party directly following the race at their Broadway location in downtown Saratoga Springs. Race participants will receive a race medal, race t-shirt, and a ticket for one free beverage at Druthers after the race. The race will be USATF-certified and will be an annual event. Participants and volunteers are encouraged to register at https://zippy-reg.com/register/i-run-saratoga. Packet pickup will take place on Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19 at Courtyard Marriott. 

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Golf Tournament on June 17th, at Brookhaven Gold Course. The tournament will cost golfers $150 for a 9-hole, half day of golf.

Registration will begin at 9AM, giving players time to check in, warm up, and connect before the action begins with breakfast sandwiches and coffee. A 10 a.m. shotgun will send teams out across the course for a morning of golf, camaraderie, and friendly competition.

After play concludes, participants will gather at The View at Brookhaven for a delicious lunch buffet and awards ceremony. For more information contact Andrea Mulholland at amulholland@saratoga.org. 

    Benidorm, Spain – Ari Berliner (27) from the Jason Morris Judo Center in Glenville, NY continued his hot streak by making it all the way to the 66kg final to win a silver medal at the Benidorm European Open, May 16, 2026. Berliner has medaled in his last four major events including a bronze at the US Nationals, a bronze at the Pan Am Championships and a bronze at the Warsaw Open, compiling a 14-4 record over that period. This result boosted Berliner’s world ranking up 3 spots to #41.

 For the final running of the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is offering two behind-the-scenes walking tours of the Saratoga Racecourse. The walking tour will take participants through both the public and lesser-known sides of the Saratoga Racecourse on Friday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. or Sunday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. Highlights include iconic locations such as the Grandstand and Clubhouse, including the Oklahoma Training Track, as well as the original 1847 Racecourse and Horse Haven.

Tours begin at the Whitney Viewing Stand at the Oklahoma Training Track. Tickets are $35 for SSPF members and $45 for non-members. Reservations are required and space is limited. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 587-5030.

 LifeSong, Inc. invites the Capital Region community to the 14th Annual LifeSong Dash 5K and Family Day, happening Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Halfmoon Town Park. More than just a race, this USATF-sanctioned event has become a hallmark of local philanthropy, family fun, and community spirit. 

Event Schedule: 8:00 AM: Registration opens 9:00 AM: Opening ceremonies 9:30 AM: 1-Mile Kids Run 10:00 AM: 5K Start 11:00 AM: Awards Ceremony 11:30 AM: Post-Race Concert 

Over 400 runners and walkers are expected to converge for this United States Track and Field (USATF) sanctioned 5K, raising funds to support LifeSong’s impactful services for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Proceeds from the event will directly fund LifeSong’s new greenhouse project, a 14’ x 19’ geothermal structure being built behind LifeSong’s Clifton Park offices. The greenhouse will teach program members basic agriculture and provide fresh produce for participants and food pantries across the region. 

“This isn’t just a race—it’s a celebration,” says Dr. Darren Barkman, LifeSong’s Clinical Services Manager and Dash Director. “We love gathering the community and our agency together to honor all LifeSong does to serve our amazing participants!” 

Family Fun Meets Purpose-Driven Celebration 

In addition to the race, attendees can enjoy food trucks, a kid’s area with face painting, rock climbing wall and dunk tank, vendors and other exhibits, plus a post-race concert with the classic rock band ONYX. LifeSong Dash Gold Premier Sponsors for 2026 are Peckham Industries, M&T Bank, Stewart’s Shops, Simmons Capital, Hannaford, Cornerstone Capital Wealth Management, GTM Payroll and HR, and New Country Toyota of Clifton Park.