2026 RevolutionNJ Race Series Comes to Red Bank Battlefield

5K race and one-mile family fun walk will be held at Red Bank Battlefield on April 19, 2026.

TRENTON, NJ - The race is on! RevolutionNJ, the state's official partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution, has launched its annual series of six 5K races and one-mile family fun walks at historic sites across New Jersey to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The second race and one-mile fun walk in the 2026 RevolutionNJ Race Series will occur on April 19 at Red Bank Battlefield Park in Gloucester County, located along the Delaware River. Racers and walkers alike will navigate the site of a significant American victory during the Revolutionary War at Gloucester's only historical park. Red Bank Battlefield Park features a scale model of Fort Mercer, where the Continental Army defeated the British Hessian soldiers in 1777. The site also features The James and Ann Whitall house, which served as a hospital for wounded soldiers.

After participants enjoy the 5K run or one-mile walk, they can continue to enjoy Red Bank Battlefield by attending the site's Spring Festival and Earth Day celebration. There will be colonial themed activities, crafts, games, a magic show, and presentations on local plants and pollinators on site. The Whitall House will also be open for tours.

The third race on May 31 brings race series participants to the Palisade Interstate Park Commission's Fort Lee Historic Park. Race series participants will be immersed in the site where President George Washington and his troops battled for control over New York City and the Hudson River in November of 1776. The site also has a Visitor Center and a reconstructed encampment for racers to engage with throughout the day.

"This year's RevolutionNJ Race Series provides New Jerseyans several opportunities to learn more about our state's connection to the American Revolution in innovative ways. Participants can learn more about New Jersey's impact on our nation, while celebrating health and wellness," said Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, who oversees RevolutionNJ as Secretary of State. 

"New Jersey is filled with battlefields, parks, and taverns that are connected to the American Revolution. The RevolutionNJ Race Series brings New Jerseyans directly to the places the Revolution happened," said Sara Cureton, Executive Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission. "We encourage all New Jerseyans, from nature lovers and history buffs to families and avid runners, to enjoy this year's races during the anniversary of our nation's founding."

"Inspired by Jonas Cattell's legendary run to warn American troops of a British attack at Red Bank Battlefield, the RevolutionNJ Race Series connects New Jersey's revolutionary past to its present," said Carrie Fellows, Executive Director of Crossroads of the American Revolution. "The Race Series adds a special twist to learning New Jersey history, all while participating in recreation that entire families can enjoy. Each site tells a different story, and we encourage participants to attend multiple races to uncover them all."

All participants will receive a t-shirt and a finisher's medal. Awards will be given to the top three fastest runners in each ten-year age category. Racers and walkers who attend all six races will receive a special prize. Participation in the race is $20 for those registering for the one-mile fun walk and $35 for those registering for the 5K race. For more information, visit: https://www.revnj.org/revnj-race-series.

Upcoming Race Series Locations:
Red Bank Battlefield 5K: Sunday, April 19, 2026
Fort Lee Historic Park 5K: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Monmouth Battlefield 5K: Sunday, August 9, 2026
Princeton Battlefield 5K: Sunday, September 6, 2026
Batsto Village 5K: Sunday, October 11, 2026

About RevolutionNJ Created through state legislation in 2018, RevolutionNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey. For more information on RevolutionNJ, visit https://www.revnj.org/.