1 High St, Stonington CT
Thursday, July 23rd, 2026
The 2026Blessing of the Fleet 5K Race is Thursday, July 23 and is an in-person timed race through historic Stonington Borough. Our certified course starts and ends at the Town Dock, 1 High Street, Stonington.
As an option, you can choose to register for a non-competitive 2-mile walk through town, starting and ending at the Town Dock, too.
Sign up today to run a 5K road race or 2 mile walk.
When you register, you will receive an official 2026 race bib and a commemorative t-shirt when you register by July 1st.
2026 Race Registration = $25 per entry in advance. $30 race day registration.
Please direct specific race questions to StoningtonBlessing5K@gmail.com
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Thank you for being a part of the 2026 Blessing of the Fleet 5K Race and 2-Mile Walk on July 23. The race will commence at 6PM at the Town Dock. Our walkers will start their route a few minutes after the 6 pm race starts. All walkers and runners should report to the starting line, down by the fishing boats - there will be signage - by 5:45 for final instructions from our race committee and our official race timer. We hope you are as excited about this event as we are!
No Pets/Dogs Please: Town parks are public spaces and dogs are prohibited from the tent/green spaces at the Dock, and for the safety of our runners, walkers and spectators, dogs and pets are prohibited from race day events and the race. Thank you for understanding.
Race Location and Parking: The race starts at the Stonington Town Dock in the Borough. Please use the parking lot at St. Mary Church, the Town Dock, or the side streets around the Church. If you’re coming early to pick up your bib and race bag (beginning at 4 PM), you can park at the Town Dock.
Race Check In: We will be under the big tent at the Town Dock beginning at 4PM. Upon check-in, you will receive a race bag with a t-shirt if you registered by July 1, bib number, and other goodies. There will be on-site registration ($30) beginning at 4PM. If you have any running or walking buddies who would like to sign up, bring them along! Registration closes at 5:30 pm.
5K Race Route: Please note that this is an open course and traffic will be paused during the race but we need to be mindful of vehicle traffic at all times.
2Mile Walk Route: As this is an open course, we encourage you to walk on the sidewalks or edges of the street, being mindful of vehicle traffic at all times.
Water Stations and Route Flags: We will have two water stations staffed by volunteers. In addition, volunteers with flags and signage will help guide you through the course.
Water Cups/Bottles: Our volunteers will work to pick up all refuse and recycling. Please help us along the way, if you can. We’ll have bags and barrels for plastic bottles that need to be recycled. If you miss the opportunity to drop it off at a water station, please bring your plastic back to the Dock and we’ll collect it. Thank you!
Recovery Drinks, Snacks, and Stretches: When you cross the finish line, head over to the big tent for recovery beverages and snacks. We’ll also have team members from Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Centers on-site for post-race recovery stretches.
Awards and Recognition: We will recognize and award the top race finishers in a variety of age-related categories, but in our book, you are ALL winners for coming together to acknowledge our fishing fleet and remember those who were lost at sea.
Opportunity Prizes: After you check in and get ready for the race, check out our raffle table with great opportunities to win gift baskets and gift certificates to local stores. Every registrant receives raffle tickets in your goodie bag, and you can purchase additional tickets before the race begins.
But Wait, there’s more…The Blessing of the Fleet: This race is the kick-off to the actual Blessing of the Fleet, which takes place on Sunday, July 26, at St. Mary Church and the Town Dock. A mass in memory of our local fishermen lost at sea, and in honor of those who serve in our fishing fleet today, takes place at 10:30AM at St. Mary’s Church, followed by a parade/procession from the Town Dock at 12:00 noon, where the Very Reverend Dennis M. Perkins, Pastor, St. Mary’s and St. Michael's Church, will bless the boats and their crews and accompany the fleet to the breakwater to lay a wreath in memory of those fishermen lost at sea. Please join us under the big tent from 12noon-4PM for food, fun, and music. All are invited to attend mass, the parade and the gathering under the tents. This is a true community event for everyone to participate.
SATURDAY, JULY 25 from 4-8 p.m.: The Portuguese Holy Ghost Society will host a gathering for all in our community to celebrate the Blessing. There will be live music and an assortment of delicious Portuguese foods, plus hamburgers and hot dogs. This event is a highlight of summer in Stonington - please join us for this super fun evening at The Club. Open to everyone!!
We are happy to answer any additional questions. Please email us at stoningtonblessing5K@gmail.com with any notes or issues before the race.
