Valley Harvest Marathon

The Valley Harvest Marathon returns to Wolfville for its 34th edition on Thanksgiving weekend, October 10–11, 2026. Nova Scotia's signature fall road race is run through the heart of the Annapolis Valley — the province's apple capital and winery country — on gently rolling courses that wind past orchards, horse farms, and the UNESCO-designated Grand Pré cultural landscape. It is the rare marathon that feels like a harvest festival as much as an athletic event, with participants' shirts, finisher medals, and post-race energy fuelled by the Valley's famous autumn colours.

Race weekend pairs the free Youth Run (Saturday, October 10, 2:00–3:00 PM at the Acadia Athletics Complex, with distances from 400M to 1,600M for kids under 5 through age 14, courtesy of the Mud Creek Rotary Club) with a full slate of Sunday races: the 50KM Ultra, 42.2KM Full Marathon, 21.1KM Half Marathon, 10KM, and 5KM, all starting from the Acadia Athletics Complex between 7:30 and 8:15 AM. The marathon course is certified and a Boston Qualifier, and the race is also an Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group Qualifier — one of only a handful of Canadian races with that status.

Registration is open through Race Roster, with tiered pricing that includes HST and processing fees (Tier 2 rates: 5KM $64.85, 10KM $77.05, Half Marathon $99.89, Full Marathon $112.20, 50KM $118.35; the Youth Run is free). Every registrant receives a participant shirt, chip timing, and a finisher medal, with personalized race bibs guaranteed for entries received by September 23. Race-kit pickup runs Thursday, October 8 at the Zatzman Sportsplex in Dartmouth and Saturday, October 10 at the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wolfville. Pair your run with a weekend of Valley apple U-picks, winery tastings, and the fall colours that make this the most scenic road race in Atlantic Canada.

Make the most of your time in Annapolis Valley - pair Valley Harvest Marathon with our Annapolis Valley Self-Drive, Best Day Trips from Halifax, and Good Cheer Trail & Wine Country guide. They're each packed with itinerary ideas, local tips, and everything you need to extend your stay.