Mount Marathon Race:

Join the community of Seward for the running of the Mount Marathon Race on July 4.

The men’s and women’s courses are a grueling 1.5-mile climb up, and back down, Alaska’s majestic and treacherous Mount Marathon. Runners from around the world join Alaskans in pursuit of a common goal: to safely complete this iconic footrace, whether on the podium or in the pack.

Mount Marathon awaits you, and future generations of bold mountain runners. It’s a thrill for both runners and spectators!

Please stay behind the barriers on 4th Avenue and at the base of the mountain, and don’t go beyond the cones stationed on Jefferson Street.

The finish pen is for racers only. Spectators, friends, family and anything not authorized must not enter the pen. If the pen become unnecessarily crowded this becomes a safety issue for racers, officials and volunteers.

With three races throughout the day, you’ll have plenty of time to see the race from different vantage points. You can watch the start and finish on 4th Avenue, or head to the end of Jefferson Street to see how racers tackle the base of the mountain. If you intend to climb the mountain, use the HIKING TRAIL, known as the Jeep Trail, which starts at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Monroe Street.

The women’s and men’s race start times alternate annually. In even-numbered years, the women’s race is the last event of the day. In odd-numbered years, the men race last.

The 2024 schedule is:

9:00 AM Junior Race (Mass start for boys and girls) (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

10:00 AM Junior Podium Awards Presentation (Announcer grandstand, Fourth Ave.)

10:45 AM Mini Mount Marathon Racer Round Up (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

The adorable Mini Mount Marathon races are back for 2-6 year-olds!

There is NO registration fee, and race bibs are available at the First National Bank parking lot on the Northwest corner of Fourth & Adams Street ONLY on the Fourth of July beginning at 10:45 a.m.

The first kids race will be the 6-year-old boys, then the 6-year-old girls, then 5-year-old boys, then 5-year-old girls the then next lower age group. Races will start promptly at 11:08 a.m. immediately after the 3rd wave of the men’s start.

Kids will finish outside the fire hall and for security reasons only be released to a parent or family member. Parents are expected to be at the finish line to pick up their child and ensure that the next race starts promptly.

11:00 AM Men’s Race 1st Wave (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

11:03 AM Men’s Race 2nd Wave (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

11:06 AM Men’s Race 3rd Wave (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

11:08 AM Mini Mount Marathon Race for 2–6 year olds (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

12:15 PM Men’s Podium Awards Presentation (Announcer grandstand, Fourth Ave.)

2:00 PM Women’s Race 1st Wave (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

2:03 PM Women’s Race 2nd Wave (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

2:06 PM Women’s Race 3rd Wave (Fourth Ave. & Adams St.)

3:15 PM Women’s Podium Awards Presentation (Announcer grandstand, Fourth Ave.)

6:00 PM Awards Ceremony – AVTEC Gymnasium (519 Fourth Ave.)

Awards are given in the following categories:

Top five men, women, junior boys and junior girls and in each of their races plus top five non-binary racers.

Top five places for each age group: 7-11, 12-14, 15-17 for juniors and 18-29, and ten-year increments thereafter for adults.

Longevity: individuals that have finished 20, 30, 40 or 50 races.

July 4th Festival:

Schedule of Events:

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024

12 PM – 6 PM Some festival booths open (Adams St. & Fourth Ave.)

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024

9 AM – 6 PM Festival booths open (Adams St., Church St., & Fourth Ave.)

5 PM – 7 PM Annual Pie Sale at Seward Memorial United Methodist Church (Fourth Ave. & Church St.)

5 PM – 8 PM Bib Pick-Up (Seward High School)

5 PM – 8 PM Pasta Feed (Seward High School)

6:00 PM Raffle & Auction For Men’s and Women’s Race (Seward High School)

6:45 PM Race Safety Meeting, Mandatory For First-Time Racers (Seward High School)

8:00 PM DJ Gre at the Seward Alehouse (215 4th Ave.)

9:00 PM Dance Party with DJ Hankerchief at the Yukon Bar (201 4th Ave.)

11:00 PM Boat Parade (Seward Harbor & Waterfront Park)

MIDNIGHT Fourth of July Fireworks Display (Seward Harbor & Waterfront Park)

Thursday, July 4th, 2024

8 AM – 4 PM Race Headquarters open (Flamingo Lounge parking lot, 208 Fourth Ave.)

8:00 AM Annual Pie Sale at Seward Memorial United Methodist Church (Fourth Ave. & Church St.)

8:50 AM Singing of the National Anthem

9 AM – 6 PM Festival booths open (Adams St., Church St., & Fourth Ave.)

11:00 AM Sloppy Joe Booth at the Resurrection Lutheran Church (Third Ave. & Jefferson St.)

11:00 AM BBQ Rib Feed at the American Legion Seward Post 5 (Fifth Ave. & Jefferson St.)

11:00 AM Chicken BBQ at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Fifth Ave. & Jefferson St.)

1:00 PM Fourth of July Parade (Downtown)

5:00 PM Live Music From “Ellie & The Echoes” at the Flamingo Beer Garden (208 Fourth Ave.)

9:00 PM Live Music From DJ Hankerchief at the Yukon Bar (201 4th Ave.)

Fest Date: July 2 - 4, 2024

Location: Various Locations in Seward, AK

Click here for more information.