Date: January 17, 2026
Length: 5K Road Race, 5K-ish Trail Race, Kids 1/2 Mile
Start Time: 10:00am
Location: Mendon Ponds Park, Stewart Lodge (map)
Winterfest Hot Cocoa Races
Winterfest Hot Cocoa Run, part of Monroe County Winterfest
Saturday, January 17th at Stewart Lodge, Mendon Ponds Park
Both 5K Races start at 10AM | Kids 1/2 Mile starts at 10:50AM
Enjoy a wonderful winter day in the park with this new addition to the Monroe County Winterfest Festival. Choose from 5k road or 5k-ish trail and sign the little ones up for the kids race. Post race, stick around and enjoy all the offerings Winterfest has to offer the public. Come experience the best in winter activities at Winterfest. Perfect family friendly way to spend in the park this winter.
The first 200 Participants will receive a custom Tumbler to use as they enjoy the post race hot cocoa bar (tumbler additional for kids race)
Want to Volunteer? Click Here
Race Offerings:
- 5K Road Race
- 5K-ish Trail Race
- Kids 1/2 Mile
Custom Tumbler Depiction
First 200 registered get the "hot cocoa" tumbler! Color may vary based on availability
Kids can purchase the tumbler with registration while supplies last
Beneficiary
Partial proceeds will go to Wild Wings Bird of Prey Facility & Nature Center
Website: https://www.wildwingsinc.com/
Wild Wings Inc is a not-for-profit educational organization which includes a bird of prey facility and the Mendon Ponds Park Nature Center. We care for permanently injured and non-releasable animals which are unable to survive on their own in the wild.
Registration/Packet Pickup
Sign Up/Registration Fees Here
Packet Pickup
- Friday, January 16th from 10-6PM at Fleet Feet @ The Armory (155 Culver Rd., Rochester, NY 14620)
- Please go to packet pickup to alleviate race day lines. Others can pickup your packet for you.
- Day of Packet Pickup at Stewart Lodge from 9AM - 9:50AM
This event follows the standard running industry policy: All entry fees are non-refundable, transferable or deferable. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event due to circumstances beyond our control such as a natural disaster or emergency or as required to protect the safety of participants and staff. No refunds will be issued under these circumstances. We reserve the right to change the details of the event without prior notice. I understand that my entry fee is nonrefundable, non transferable, non deferable and bib numbers are non transferable.
Awards
5K Road Course:
- Overall Male/Female
- First in 10 Year Age Groups (19 & Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80 & Up)
5K-ish Trail Course:
- Overall Male/Female
- First in 10 Year Age Groups (19 & Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80 & Up)
Race Day Schedule
9AM Packet Pickup Opens
10AM Both 5K Events Start
10:50AM Kids 1/2 Mile Starts
11:15AM Awards Ceremony for Both 5K's
Post Race - enjoy all the activities and offerings of Winterfest
Course/Maps
5K Road Course Here
This 5K Road course is an out and back on the road within Mendon Ponds Park. The road is open to traffic so please remain against traffic.
5K-ish Trail Course: There isn't a course map to view, but as trail rules go, follow the pink flags, not the person in front of you and if you get lost it is your fault. There will be a bounty of pink flags and/or signs to ensure you are going the correct direction. Just know, you will start at the same start as the 5K road course, but will split off to the right as you head up the driveway from Stewart Lodge. The course is indeed on all trails, so proper footwear recommended.
Both 5K's start on the driveway at Stewart Lodge.
Kids 1/2 Mile - this will be determine day of depending on the weather conditions. We will communicate.
Directions/Parking
Parking is in the Beach Lot of Douglas Road. No Parking at Stewart Lodge.
Race Sponsors
