A crowd of runners at the 2024 Citizens Queens 10K in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Photo by Carla G. Torres for NYRR
Approximately 13,000 runners are expected to descend on Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the upcoming Queens 10K on Saturday, June 20, hosted by New York Road Runners (NYRR) as part of its Five-Borough Series in the borough’s largest park. Nearly 1,000 youth runners will reportedly participate in the accompanying Flushing Meadows Kids Run, along with 12,000 adult runners at the sold-out 6.2-mile course.
Photo by Carla G. Torres for NYRR
“The Citizens Queens 10K is more than a race—it’s a celebration of the communities that make Queens one of the most dynamic places in the world,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, the NYRR CEO, in a statement. “As our marquee event in Queens, it reflects our belief in the power of movement to bring people together. Through races, youth programs, and community events throughout the year, we are helping more local residents believe in every step and discover what’s possible through running.”
In its third-year partnership with Citizens, the anticipated course through the park’s picturesque sights — from the Unisphere to the Fountain of the Planets — will have the Flushing Meadows Kids Run as one of its features. The race serves as one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners events the nonprofit hosts throughout the year, as confirmed in a press release. The kids-only event is described to as a “a fun and rewarding experience that encourages kids to be physically active and builds their confidence to cross any finish line.” The youth program benefits 200,000 students nationwide, with 100,000 in New York City.
Photo by Adam Hunger for NYRR
A post-race festival will also be presented to race participants this weekend. Kicking off from 8 a.m. to noon, the festival offers a live DJ set, summer treats from a popsicle truck and brownies from Queens Night Market vendor Dilena’s Dolcini — the raffles include an item signed by former New York Giants quarterback and Citizens ambassador Eli Manning, tickets to the New York Giants 2026 season home opener, tickets to The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park, and entry to the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.
This year’s beneficiary is Pursuit, a Queens-based nonprofit helping low-income New Yorkers launch “life-changing careers in technology and AI.”
The 13th annual Citizens Queens 10K, which evolved from the former Queens Half Marathon in 1994, is the fourth of six races in the Five-Borough Series, a running initiative that brings runners to the city’s boroughs. The other races in said series are the NYRR Manhattan 10K, the United Airlines NYC Half, the RBC Brooklyn Half, the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile and the NYRR Staten Island Half.
Photo by Adam Hunger for NYRR
For more information about the Citizens Queens 10K, visit their website.