Cedar Polka Fest – Race Series

The Cedar Polka Fest has been a popular Leelanau County tradition for the past 44 years, 2026 marks the sixth year of our festival race event -The Cedar Polka Fest – Run 4 The Kielbasa.  This Four-mile event begins and ends in downtown Cedar and includes free entry to the polka fest and a complimentary beer / pop!We welcome all Runners, Walkers, Strollers, Wheelchair Racers and Dogs to this professionally timed event.

If you can’t make the race, no worries! You can run the race VIRTUALLY! By participating in a virtual setting, you will still receive an awesome collectible T-Shirt and support the Cedar Community.

The Pierogi Fun Run. Want to participate in the fun but 4 miles is more sausage than you want to bite off? Sign up for the Pierogi Fun Run! Less steps on your fitness tracker but free Polka Fest entry and drink are just as fun!

Event Schedule

Packet Pick up & Late Registration
Date: Friday, August 28th, 5 to 7pm
Location: In front of the Polka Fest tent

Packet Pick up & Race Day Registration
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 7 to 7:45am
Location: At the Race Start Line near the 4 way stop in beautiful downtown Cedar.
Race Starts at 8:00am

The race starts promptly at 8:00AM. Participants are encouraged to dress up for this fun event. We will gather for the playing of our National Anthem at 7:55AM near the starting line at the Intersection of Bellinger and Cedar Road.
Prizes will be given to Men’s and Women’s Overall 1st -3rd place age group winners.

Awards

Awards are available as soon as the timing company compiles the list. Awards can be picked up at the Registration Booth near the race Start / Finish Line.

After the event

Stick around for the Polka Fest Parade, the Craft Show & Farmers Market or to Dance the night away to some of the best Polka bands in the Midwest.
You must register online before August 14th to receive a T-Shirt. We will have extras on race day for those who register after this date, but there is no guarantee on size. First come, first serve. This is a one of a kind event with a highly collectible T-shirt.

Online registration closes at 7AM August 29th, 2025. 

Join fellow runners on August 26, 2023 for the Cedar Polka Fest – Race Series. It's a fantastic 6.4K, 3.2K featuring a flat and fast course in Cedar.