Yuengling Sportsfest Weekend
Oceanfront | March 20–22, 2026
Founded in 1973 by Jerry and Lori Bocrie, the Shamrock Marathon is the oldest continually running road race in Virginia Beach and a longtime favorite of the running community — it’s consistently recognized by ESPN and Runner’s World magazine for excellence in a number of different categories. The inaugural marathon had 59 entrants and 38 finishers, and the weekend also featured 1-mile, 2-mile, and 6-mile races.
Today, the annual St. Patrick’s Day race has blossomed into the Yuengling Shamrock Sportsfest Weekend, including five races with over 24,000 participants — plus the Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo and of course the Leprechaun Dash, a 26.2-yard event for the five-and-under crowd. On the other side of the finish line, grown-up, green-garbed competitors gather at an ever-growing Post-Race Celebration featuring cold beer, live music and lots of high fives.
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