What’s New For Grandma’s Marathon In 2025?

One of Northern Minnesota's biggest events is about to kick off, with thousands of people preparing to participate in the three different races of Grandma's Marathon Weekend in the Duluth area.

The 2025 running of Grandma's Marathon is the 49th in race history, with the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and William A. Irvin 5K rounding out the list of the three races that have become the centerpieces of a weekend not only celebrating the runners and their accomplishments, but the community that hosts it.

This year, there are some new and different things to be aware of. Some of those things break from tradition, while others are simply updates for this year's event. Here's a look at everything that's new and different for 2025.

New 5K time & kids events details

One of the big changes for 2025 is when the William A. Irvin 5K will be run. Historically, it was held on Friday evening. Race organizers decided to move the event to 1 pm to accommodate some construction along the normal route.

While the move to an afternoon start for this year was out of necessity, organizers say they will gauge feedback to see if the change should become a permanent one.

READ MORE: What is the weather forecast for Grandma's Marathon events?

With the 1 pm start of the 5K, you might wonder how that impacts the kids' events and Whipper Snapper races on Friday.

The Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) Festival for Kids starts at 2 pm at Bayfront Festival Park, with the Whipper Snapper Races at 4 pm. The event concludes at 5 pm.

New-look live music lineup for "Rock the Bayfront"

The 2025 "Rock The Bayfront" live music at Bayfront Festival Park got some tweaks as well.

Friday's live music has been shifted to an earlier timeframe, with music starting at 1:30 pm, and the headlining act Cloud Cult playing from 5:30 to 7:30, concluding Friday's music.

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Saturday, there is live music all day, from 9 am until 11:30 pm. Both days are free and everyone is welcome. You can see this year's lineup of performers and schedule here.

An iconic part of race day is sidelined for 2025

By now, runners should already know this, but the unique option to ride the train to the starting location for Grandma's Marathon and the half marathon is sadly not an option this year.

READ MORE: What is the average weather for Grandma's Marathon? What are the biggest weather extremes for the event?

The North Shore Scenic Railroad identified a mechanical issue last week that is preventing them from being able to transport people this year, though race organizers look forward to bringing this tradition back in the future.

While there are plenty of buses to get everyone where they need to be, the opportunity to ride a train along the North Shore to get to the start of your race is a unique element of Grandma's Marathon that many will miss this year. You can read more about the bus options for runners here.