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.
NEW For 2026!!! Registered runners receive free entry to the Polka Fest and one DRINK Ticket good for a beer or 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.
Want to participate in the fun, but four miles is more sausage than you want to bite off? Sign up for the Pierogi Fun Run! Fewer steps on your fitness tracker, but the pancakes and sausage are included and just as sweet!
Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 8:00 am (Earlier start time for 2026!)
The race starts promptly at 8:00 am. Participants are encouraged to dress up for this fun event. We will gather for the playing of our National Anthem at 7:55 am 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 for the 4-mile run only.
Awards will be available for pickup after the race near the START / FINISH Line.
Stick around for the Polka Fest Parade, The Pol-Car Show, or to dance the night away to some of the best Polka bands in the Midwest.
You must register online before August 15th to be guaranteed 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-served. This is a one-of-a-kind event with a highly collectible T-shirt.
Online registration closes at 7:30 am August 29th, 2026.