Sat, Nov 21, 2026

Lights on the Lake 5K

Liverpool, NY

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Oct 29, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Lights on the Lake 5K

The course runs through Onondaga Lake Park before sunrise, passing the holiday light displays that give the race its name. It is dark out, the lights are on, and the park looks nothing like it does on a regular morning run. There is a walk option and a run option, held on separate days, both starting from the Salt Museum parking lot.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at the Salt Museum on Lake Drive, with race-morning pickup opening well before the start. The organizers collect unwrapped toy donations at the event for children at a local children's hospital.

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Lights on the Lake 5K 2025 Results

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K Results · 2025

674finishers

17:45winner

33:06median

1:19:34cutoff

Top 3: Collin Fitzgerald (17:45) · Aden McRae (18:06) · Michael Burleigh (18:17)

The Lights on the Lake 5K has been held every year since at least 2019. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 24, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles11/21/2026 06:00$35

3.1 Miles11/22/2026 06:00$35

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Lights on the Lake 5K

Will I finish last at the Lights on the Lake 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 33:06, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:19:34, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Lights on the Lake 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 674 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Lights on the Lake 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:45 while the median finisher took 33:06. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.