Five Cheer Zones Planned to Welcome 26k+ Runners

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island in partnership with the City of Windsor and the Downtown Windsor BIA want Windsor Essex residents to once again Line The Drive during the Detroit Free Press Marathon Sunday October 19 from 7am through 11am.

One of the few truly international marathon courses in the world, the event attracts racers from across the globe.

The runner route for 2025 has been enhanced to include an additional half kilometre run through downtown Windsor, showcasing the new City Hall Square and Windsor City Hall in addition to running along our beautiful waterfront on Riverside Drive.

One of the most iconic races in North America, it also affords runners the unique chance to experience crossing between Canada and the United States by foot through the Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.

To support the event, five vibrant Cheer Zones will be set up along Riverside Drive and around Windsor City Hall Square. These zones are designed to help spectators ‘Line The Drive’ with friends and family, showcasing their most creative and elaborate signs to cheer on loved ones and the more than 26,000 runners participating in this year’s marathon, including over 2,600 Canadians.

The five ‘Line the Drive’ cheer zones include:

1. Straith Park Cheer Zone located on Riverside Drive between Josephine Ave. and Campbell Ave.
2. Art Windsor-Essex Canadian Cheer Zone located in the Vision Corridor on Riverside Drive between Bruce Ave. and Church St.
3. Keg Riverside Canadian Cheer Zone located on Riverside Drive between Ferry St. and Ouellette Ave. at The KEG Steakhouse + Bar – Windsor
4. City Hall Square Cheer Zone located along Park St. E. and City Hall Square S. at Windsor City Hall
5. Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Cheer Zone located on Park Street E. across from the entrance to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Customs Exit

Enhancements on the route include activations and product giveaways from BioSteel, The Keg Steakhouse + Bar Patio Party with exclusive breakfast offerings, the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County with 40 flags representing 40 countries of origin connected to registered racers, NorthStar Cheer team at each location, live music as they enter the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel from AM800 CKLW and Windsor’s Alternative 89X along with commentary from local running community leaders Dave Orshinsky and Gary Belanger.

Line The Drive aligns with the City of Windsor’s Strengthen the Core initiative, which creates vibrancy by attracting and engaging residents and visitors with unique amenities, gathering spaces, and engagement opportunities and events.

There are plenty of other ways to enjoy downtown Windsor on Marathon weekend, including:

• Enbridge presents Live At The Square – Friday October 16^th from 7pm – 9pm at City Hall square
• Hello From The Other Side with Medium Bella Silva Cacilhas – Friday October 16^th at 8pm inside the Chrysler Theatre
• Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market – Saturday October 17^th from 9am – 2pm on Pelissier Street
• Two Hour Sightseeing Cruise – Saturday October 18^th at 2pm with Windsor Premier Cruises
• Gerry Dee ‘Funny You Should Say That’ – Saturday October 18^th at 8pm inside the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor

Please note that as part of this event, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will be closed on Sunday October 19th, 2025 from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Tunnel will reopen to normal operations at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday October 19th, 2025.

For full details, visit visitwindsoressex.com/marathon.