The streets of downtown Dallas will be flooded with traffic — foot traffic, that is — this weekend as the 52nd annual BMW Dallas Marathon Festival strides into town.
The yearly footrace, which began as the Dallas White Rock Marathon in 1971, is Texas’ oldest running marathon and the City’s largest one-day sporting event. In 2012, the marathon rebranded to become known as the Dallas Marathon. Thousands of runners and walkers are expected to participate in this weekend’s various events, with tens of thousands of spectators cheering them on every step of the way.
Since 1997, proceeds from the event have been donated to charitable organizations. For the last several years, Scottish Rite for Children has been the primary beneficiary and has received more than $4 million from the event.
This year, the 3-day race weekend kicks off on Friday, December 8 at 7 p.m. with the Friday Night Lights Mile, a “Grand Prix-style course circling Dallas City Hall Plaza,” with separate heats for runners and walkers. Afterward, participants can enjoy music, food, and beverages, including complimentary beer for adults 21 and older, at the nearby post-race party, per runDallas.
Saturday events include a 10K, 5K, 5-person 5K team challenge run. In addition, there will be a 5K walk, a 100-meter dash for kids (ages six and under), and the Oncor Kid’s Race (a 1- and 2-mile run or walk).
The actual marathon events take place on Sunday and include a Full Marathon (26.2M), Half Marathon (13.1M), Half Marathon Walk (13.1M), and a 50k Ultra Marathon (31M). Runners who wish to participate at a shorter distance can enter the Shell Energy Relays, which include a 2-person Half Marathon (13.1M) and a 5-person Marathon (26.2M).
The 2023 BMW Dallas Marathon Health & Fitness Expo will also be taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on December 8 and 9. The expo will feature “merchandise, information, and exhibits related to the running, fitness, and health industries” and serve as the “official packet pick-up location for all participants,” according to the event description.
The various races will impact automobile traffic around the downtown area. Some roads, such as those near City Hall, will be closed as early as December 6 and will remain closed next week, allowing for event venue setup and take down. As a safety precaution for race participants, other roads in the downtown and surrounding areas will be closed for a few hours. For a complete list of road closures and their timing, click here.
In addition, street parking will likely be in short supply, as there will be many No-Parking zones along the race routes, so attendees are encouraged to use ride-sharing and public transportation services. DART trains will be available for runners and spectators at the start and finish line throughout the BMW Dallas Marathon.
