The 2026 Run for Children’s Smile will take place on Sunday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m. in Forest Park, Queens. The 10th anniversary charity 5K includes a free 1K run for kids aged 5 to 12. Earlier registrations remain valid and online sign-up is open.
Runners from New York, New Jersey and beyond get a second chance to line up together. The anniversary race organized by Children’s Smile Foundation, originally scheduled for September 27, has moved one month later, to the last Sunday of October. The course, distance and rules stay the same – and so does the goal: helping sick children and children in need.
Why was the race moved to October 25?
The September race had to be called off: on race day New York City was under a state of emergency declared because of a Nor’easter storm, and the organizers put participants’ safety first. The foundation asked the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation for a new date and received approval to hold the anniversary edition on October 25.
Wojciech Maślanka, the foundation’s Executive Director, said the safety of participants always comes first and apologized, on behalf of the Board of Directors, for the change of date. Long-range forecasts for October 25 call for a partly cloudy autumn day with temperatures of 60–64°F – ideal running weather, according to the organizers.
Forest Park 5K – key facts
- When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, start at 11:00 a.m.
- Where: Forest Park, Queens – Woodhaven Blvd. & Forest Park Dr., Queens, NY 11421, next to Victory Field
- Distance: 5K through the park; 1K for kids aged 5–12
- Organizers: Children’s Smile Foundation and Polska Running Team
- Honorary patronage: Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York
How to register
Register online at events.elitefeats.com/26childrenssmile or scan the QR code on the poster or flyer. If you signed up for the September date, you do not need to do anything – your registration carries over to October 25.
- Online donation: $40 (+ processing fee), including a commemorative 10th-edition T-shirt, coffee, tea and cake
- Race-day registration: $50, until 10:00 a.m. only
- Medals: anniversary medals for the first 200 registered participants
- Kids 5–12: the 1K run is free
Where does the money go?
All proceeds support sick children and children in need. For years the Run for Children’s Smile has combined sport and charity: adults and kids run side by side, and the youngest have a distance of their own. More details are available on the Children’s Smile Foundation website (in Polish).
Who supports the anniversary edition?
The main sponsor of the 10th Run for Children’s Smile is Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union. The event is also supported by ETS Contracting, Perecman Firm P.L.L.C., TM Construction of New York, Belvedere Bridge, Joanna Gwozdz Attorney at Law, PDP Contracting, AMN Construction, Kurzatkowski Law Group, Pulaski Association of Business and Professional Men, Victoria Consulting & Development, FT Services & Distribution, Green & Szymanski – Law Offices, Vision Financial Planning, Arthur’s Funeral Home, All State Insurance – Robert Dworniczak, All NYC Safety & Training, L & Z Restoration Consulting, Maven Construction, Maleni Group, Everest Agency, Greenpoint Insurance Brokerage, JEPOL Construction and Maurice Building Supplies, as well as the St. John Paul II Polish Language and Culture School in Maspeth.
Media patrons: “Biały Orzeł,” “Kurier Plus,” “Nowy Dziennik,” “Super Express,” “Tygodnik Plus,” the portals Bazarynka.com, Dziennik Polonijny (Poland.us) and Zza Oceanu, and Radio RAMPA.
Run for Children’s Smile 2025 – photos
Here is how last year’s race in Forest Park looked – adults and kids at the start, medals waiting at the finish line.
Based on a Children’s Smile Foundation press release. Photos: foundation archive (2025 race).
