Stafford's Top of Michigan Festival of Races includes a series of races to benefit the Top of Michigan Trails Council and the Petoskey High School Track and Cross Country teams.   

The course is run along the Little Traverse Wheelway, a nonmotorized trail that runs from Charlevoix, through Petoskey/Bay Harbor and onto Harbor Springs. This year, our course will be out and backs from Petoskey's waterfront. The trail is an excellent venue for runners. The trail is relatively flat and has spectacular views of the Little Traverse Bay. Please note that there are a few off road sections of this route, on grass and dirt.

The Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k start and end in Petoskey. The course is mostly paved, with some sections on grass and a short section on trail, connecting into the Petoskey State Park for the 10k and Half Marathon.

2023 Courses were as follows:
- 5k Course
- 10k Course
- Half Marathon Course
We expect 2024's to be the same!

Event Information:

Event Date:

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Event Location:

Lime Kiln Kid’s Fishing Pier, Bayfront Park, Petoskey, MI 49770

Event Times:

• Friday Packet Pickup - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm @ Top of Michigan Trails Council, 1687 M119, Petoskey, MI 49770
• Saturday Packet Pickup - 6:30 am to 7:15 am @ Lim Kiln Kid's Fishing Pier, Bayfront Park
• Half Marathon Race Begins - 7:30 am
• 10K Race Begins - 8:00 am
• 5K Race Begins - 8:15 am
• Awards - TBD

Registration Fees:   

• Half - $70, Early Registration (now through March 20, 2024, price increases again after April 20)
• 10K - $45, Early Registration (now through March 20, 2024, price increases again after April 20)
• 5K - $30, Early Registration (now through March 20, 2024, price increases again after April 20)

Registration Includes:

• Refreshments
• Finisher Medals
• Top Male/Female Awards
• Race swag