Aaricka Aldridge and Kyle Oliver holding hands in triumph infront of the capital building.

Thank you to our sponsors!

For additional Run/Walk information, please email sportsclub@chq.org or call 716.357.6281 during the summer season.

Old First Night t-shirts and posters available for sale at the Sports Club.

Coming from off the grounds?

Parking:

Please park in the main parking lot across the street from Chautauqua’s Main Gate. There is a fee for parking. You can pay cash in the parking lot or purchase a parking pass at our Main Gate Welcome Center in advance. Please allow enough time to walk to the race site.

Getting on the Grounds:

Walk-in passes are in Will Call located at the Main Gate Welcome Center and are valid from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Racers, volunteers, and spectators can pick up passes there at no charge. Head down to the Sports Club to get ready for the race. The Sports Club is located between the Miller Bell Tower and the Athenaeum Hotel.

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION:
If you have any accessibility related needs or require accommodations to be able to participate in the OFN run/walk, please reach out to the Sports Club at sportsclub@chq.org. Advance notice is always appreciated. The Institution is committed to providing an accessible experience for all participants. Our staff can discuss any reasonable accommodations that can allow for your participation while balancing safety needs and the challenges of a hilly course.

Sign up today and be a part of our OFN race day on August 1, 2026! Our traditional 50th Annual Old First Night chip timed 2.75 mile run or walk takes participants around the perimeter of beautiful Chautauqua Institution. Those who aren’t on the grounds on race day can still be a part of the celebration by signing up for our virtual Around the World race. Race entry includes a keepsake OFN t-shirt featuring the Chautauqua Sports Club.

This year we offer tiered pricing for OFN race registrations:

$45 preseason pricing through June 26.
$50 June 27 – July 27.
$55 July 28 – July 31. Online registration closes at 5:30pm on July 31.
$70 race morning in-person registration only.

Our 2026 OFN Race Day celebration offers kids more opportunities to get in on the fun! Once again this year the Sports Club is hosting four kids fun runs: 1 Mile Run, 100 Yard Dash, 25 Yard Toddler Trot, and 10 Yard Diaper Crawl. Race entry for each of these kids fun runs includes an “I AM CHQ’S FUTURE” hat or string bag for babies.

This year we are also offering two ways for walkers to participate. We continue to offer walkers the option of racing for the top 5 overall awards by finishing closest to their estimated time.. There is also a Speed Walk category where you race against the clock for fastest overall walk time. Walkers must finish within 90 minutes of the race start in order for their results to be published. Top five overall winners will receive awards in both walk categories. Times for walkers who finish after 90 minutes will be manually captured up to 120 minutes.

Select a Race Day Event to Register

OFN RUN – 2.75 MILE

Run – August 1 at 8 a.m. All registered participants receive an OFN t-shirt and finish area refreshments.

Price: $45 (Race Morning Registration: $70)

Historic and scenic course around the perimeter of beautiful Chautauqua Institution. Chip timed.

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

Overall prizes will be awarded to the top three men and women determined by gun time. Age group prizes will be given to top 3 finishers in the following categories for men and women:

Under 13, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90+

Young at Heart award given to oldest male and female participant who complete the race.

Starts/Ends	Start Time	Distance
Sports Club	8am	2.75 miles

OFN Walk – 2.75 Miles

Walk – August 1 at 8 a.m. All registered participants will receive an OFN t-shirt and finish area refreshments.

Remember you are competing against your estimated walk time. Please remember to fill out your estimated time on the registration form. No timing devices are allowed on the course for walkers.

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

Overall prizes will be awarded to the top five overall participants who estimate their walk time closest to their chip time. No watches or timing devices allowed!

Starts/Ends	Start Time	Distance
Sports Club	8am (line up behind runners)	2.75 miles

OFN Speed Walk

Speed Walk – August 1 at 8 a.m. All registered participants will receive an OFN t-shirt and finish area refreshments.

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

Overall prizes will be awarded to the top five walkers determined by gun time.

Starts/Ends	Start Time	Distance
Sports Club	8am (line up behind runners)	2.75 miles

AROUND THE WORLD VIRTUAL 2.75MI RUN/WALK

Can’t be on the grounds for the race? You can still be a part of the fun wherever you are in the world by registering for the Around the World virtual run. All registered participants receive an OFN t-shirt. You can indicate if you want to pick your t-shirt up at the Sports Club or have us mail it to you (for an additional $7 shipping fee.) Please note t-shirts will not be available to pick up or mail until the start of the summer season.

Award Details

$35

No awards or timing posted for Around the World participants. Email your picture to socialmedia@chq.org to be used on Chautauqua's social media pages.

KIDS 1 MILE RUN

Run – August 1 at 9:15 a.m. All registered youth participants will receive an “I Am CHQ’s Future” hat. List of finishers by chip time will be compiled, however no overall or age group awards will be given. Open to ages 7-13. An adult must register to accompany child. Due to safety and security, only those with Fun Run 1 Mile bibs and race officials are permitted on the course. Kids Fun Run finishers receive a coupon for a race finisher ribbon and a coupon for a free ice cream cone at the Brick Walk Café compliments of David & Jill Peckinpaugh.

Race Information

$25

The course is an out and back run that begins at the Sports Club and heads south along S Lake Drive toward Heinz Beach, takes a right up hill then immediate left following Bryant Avenue past the Beeson Youth Center to the water treatment plant and back.

Starts/Ends	Start time	Distance	Ages
Sports Club	9:15am	1 mile	7-13 years old

KIDS FUN RUN EVENTS

Diaper Crawl – August 1 at 9 a.m.
Toddler Trot – August 1 at 9:10 a.m.
100 Yard Dash – August 1 at 9:17 a.m.

The first 80 registered youth participants will receive a “I AM CHQ’s FUTURE” hat. Finishers will receive a finisher's ribbon and a coupon for a free ice cream cone at the Brick Walk Café compliments of David & Jill Peckinpaugh. These races are not chip timed.

Race Information

$20

Parents may walk or run along with young entrants (5 & under). Race may be staggered in a series of heats to accommodate all participants. Depending on your child's development, please place them in the appropriate crawl or walk. The age groups outlined above are our suggested guidelines.

Children over 7 years of age are invited to register and participate in the Kids 1 Mile or the OFN 2.75 mile run.

Race	Start	Ends	Start Time	Distance	Age
Diaper Crawl	Grass lakefront / tarp in front of Athenaeum	Grass	9:00am	10 yd crawl	1 and under
Toddler Trot	Grass lakefront of Athenaeum	Grass	9:10am	25 yards	13mos - 3 years old
100 Yard Dash	Road inbetween Grass lakefront & Women's Club	Finish Line	9:17am (after all the 1 milers get past the Women’s Club)	100 yards	4-7 years old

OFN TSHIRT ONLY

Can’t race but want to order a t-shirt? OFN t-shirts available while supplies last for pick up at the Sports Club during the summer season. Or we can mail to you during the summer season for an additional $7 each to handle shipping fee. (Sizes YS, YM, YL, AS, AM, AL, AXL. Cost $35. Cost for 2XL $40)

$35

Old First Night t-shirts and posters available for sale at the Sports Club.

Coming from off the grounds?

Parking:

Getting on the Grounds:

2026

Old First Night Run

Thank you to our sponsors!

Old First Night t-shirts and posters available for sale at the Sports Club.

Select a Race Day Event to Register

OFN RUN – 2.75 MILE

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

OFN Walk – 2.75 Miles

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

OFN Speed Walk

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

AROUND THE WORLD VIRTUAL 2.75MI RUN/WALK

Award Details

$35

KIDS 1 MILE RUN

Race Information

$25

KIDS FUN RUN EVENTS

Race Information

$20

OFN TSHIRT ONLY

$35

Old First Night t-shirts and posters available for sale at the Sports Club.

Visit Our Socials

2026

Old First Night Run

Thank you to our sponsors!

Old First Night t-shirts and posters available for sale at the Sports Club.

Select a Race Day Event to Register

OFN RUN – 2.75 MILE

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

OFN Walk – 2.75 Miles

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

OFN Speed Walk

Award Details

Race Information

View Course Map

$45

AROUND THE WORLD VIRTUAL 2.75MI RUN/WALK

Award Details

$35

KIDS 1 MILE RUN

Race Information

$25

KIDS FUN RUN EVENTS

Race Information

$20

OFN TSHIRT ONLY

$35

Old First Night t-shirts and posters available for sale at the Sports Club.

Visit Our Socials

Old First Night Race Course