2026 Mayor's Cup promises a full day of fun this Saturday

PLATTSBURGH | It's looking like a day of sunshine and action-packed fun this weekend when the 49th annual Mayor's Cup Festival returns to Plattsburgh City Beach and marina. On Friday, the Mayor's Cup Pirate Poker Run/Walk kicks off the fun as residents of all ages break out their pirate costumes for a swashbuckling afternoon through historic downtown Plattsburgh. Check-in begins at 2:30 p.m. with the run/walk beginning at 3 p.m. from 1Up Arcade & Pub with stops at Busters, Hobie's, Olive Ridley's and The Naked Turtle. Participating restaurants will be awarding prizes for the top three pirate costumes as the afternoon promises fun, friends, food, and a little pirate mischief. Registration for the Pirate Run/Walk is $40 the day of. The full day of events begins Saturday at 8 a.m. with activities, entertainment, competitions and celebration, returning for one of the region's most beloved traditions. Whether you're enjoying family games, listening to live music, participating in friendly competitions, or simply relaxing along the beautiful Lake Champlain waterfront, the day promises something for everyone. Kicking off the festival at 8 a.m. is the Mayor's Cup Kayak Paddle Outing at City Beach (boats are available for free rental but on a first-come, first-served basis) before Yoga on the Beach kicks off at 9 a.m. The Mayor's Cup 5K Run/Walk registration also begins at 9 a.m., with the race starting from City Beach at 9:30 a.m. The two-loop course winds along the scenic paved Heritage Trail and Karen Fleury Bike Path before ending back at the beach. It is $25 to register ($30 the day of) and can be done at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Plattsburgh/FleetFeetMayorsCup5k. Participants will receive a special Mayor's Cup baseball cap. NAMI's always popular free Sand Sculpture Contest begins with rolling registration at 9:30 a.m. with final judging at 2 p.m. The free Kid's Fun Run starts at 11 a.m. for kids 12 and under, including a 1K fun run along the beach. There will also be a frisbee contest and all-day coloring mural, letting kids of all ages add their personalized color and creative flair to a supersized mural, sponsored by Price Chopper/Market 32. Registration for the 2026 Mayor's Cup Cornhole Tournament runs from 10-10:45 a.m. with bags flying shortly after. The Switcholio Round Robin is a social tournament format where individuals register as single players and get a new, randomly assigned partner for every round of the round robin. Players accumulate individual points based on their game scores, and at the end of the round-robin, these points are used to create a leaderboard and seed a final playoff bracket with higher-point players drawing a lower-point player as a partner. The format gives everyone from beginners to more advanced players a fun and casual way to work on their game. Partners are drawn randomly; participants do not need a partner to show up and have fun. Participants can register in advance at https://share.scoreholio.com/LdHxEMQgh2b or in-person day of the event. It is $20. Free Line Dancing on the Beach Pavilion hosted by 1 Up Arcade runs from 12:30 to 3 p.m. North Country Revival brings the live entertainment alongside the Rustic Pines Mobile Saloon from 4:30-6 p.m. Parking is free for all Mayor's Cup events. There are no fireworks as part of Mayor's Cup- an all-volunteer community offering courtesy of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Plattsburgh. There will be plenty of delicious food and treats available in addition to Rustic Pines Mobile Bar, including Mr. Ding-A-Ling ice cream, Caracciola's Authentic Italian, Cousins Maine Lobster, La Carreta and Pop Cycles. The 2026 Mayor's Cup Regatta brings competitive races at 10:30 a.m. with three divisions– Jib & Main, Racing, and Multihull and prizes for all divisions. The sailing courses are set the morning of the race in Cumberland Bay on Lake Champlain. Registration is free. Advance registration is required. The Spirit of Ianelli Award recognizing Chris and Stan Ransom and the Mayor's Cup Regatta Awards will be held at 6 p.m. at Plattsburgh City Marina. For more information, sign-up links and the full schedule, click here.

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2026 Mayor's Cup promises a full day of fun this Saturday

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