September 10, 2026
Two-day cross-country festival returns to Apalachee Regional Park September 11-12 with college, open, middle school, JV and varsity racing
September 10, 2026, TALLAHASSEE, Fla. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – More than 1,600 runners representing over 225 teams will descend on Tallahassee for the third annual HOKA Nights of Thunder XC Fest, September 11-12, 2026, at Apalachee Regional Park.
The two-day event begins Friday, September 11, with college heats. Saturday, September 12, features Open, Middle School, Junior Varsity and Varsity High School competition, bringing athletes from across the region together for one of the early season’s most distinctive cross-country experiences.
Now in its third year, HOKA Nights of Thunder has grown quickly by pairing championship-caliber competition with a nighttime festival atmosphere of lights, music and high-energy racing. The event is designed to showcase the intensity, camaraderie and excitement of cross country while creating a memorable experience for athletes, coaches, families and spectators.
Apalachee Regional Park provides a championship setting for the weekend. The internationally recognized course is a centerpiece of Tallahassee’s identity as the Capital of Cross Country and hosted the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
“Seeing Nights of Thunder grow to more than 225 teams and 1,600 athletes in just three years is an incredible reflection of the cross-country community,” said Mike Wattigny, Marketing Director for FRESHJUNKIE Racing. “We wanted to create something that feels different from a traditional meet – great racing on a championship course, but with an atmosphere that makes these athletes feel like the stars of the show.”
The weekend experience also includes the HOKA Shakeout Run with running influencer Billy Toad, giving athletes an additional opportunity to connect with the running community before the main slate of racing.
As the sun sets, Apalachee Regional Park takes on a different energy. Lights illuminate the venue, music fills the course and teams line the racing corridor to support their competitors, creating an environment that blends serious competition with a celebration of cross-country culture.
“Tallahassee has an extraordinary connection to cross country, and Apalachee Regional Park gives us the perfect stage for this event,” Wattigny said. “We want athletes to leave Nights of Thunder having raced hard, supported their teammates and experienced something that reminds them why they love this sport.”
The 2026 HOKA Nights of Thunder XC Fest is produced by FRESHJUNKIE Racing with support from HOKA, Visit Tallahassee Sports, TOC, Tallahassee Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Nathan, Dude Wipes and Patients First Urgent Care.
For more information and event details, visit NightsofThunder.com and share the experience using #NoNightsOff and #NTXC.
###
About HOKA:
HOKA is a leading athletic footwear and apparel brand committed to helping athletes reach new heights and achieve their goals.
About FRESHJUNKIE Racing:
FRESHJUNKIE Racing (FJR) is an event production company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Producing events since 2010, FJR manages, markets and produces endurance events across the Southeast, creating memorable experiences for participants and meaningful impact in the communities it serves. For more information, visit freshjunkieracing.com.
About The Leon County Division of Tourism/Visit Tallahassee: The Leon County Division of Tourism (Visit Tallahassee) is the official destination marketing organization charged with marketing Tallahassee-Leon County as a premier leisure, business and sports destination through direct sales, advertising, public relations, sports and visitor services. The Capital of Cross Country, Tallahassee-Leon County is home to the internationally recognized cross country course at Apalachee Regional Park, the host for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships. In 2025 Tallahassee-Leon County welcomed 2.6 million visitors who contributed $1.4 Billion in economic impact and accounts for more than 12,000 people employed in our community in the tourism & hospitality industry. For more information, go to VisitTallahassee.com or call toll free (800) 628-2866. Engage with Visit Tallahassee on Facebook and Instagram or visit us at the Leon County Visitor Information Center and Gift Shop located in at 414 E. Bloxham Street, Suite 115, Tallahassee, FL 32301.
Contact:
Mike Wattigny, Marketing Director, FRESHJUNKIE Racing | mike@freshjunkie.com | (504) 952-2899