Join The Drake and The Iron Horse for a point-to-point race, relay, and walk connecting Amherst and Northampton on the Norwottuck Rail Trail. Along the way, you’ll find live music, a beautiful route through the Valley, and a celebratory finish into Taste of Northampton with 2 stages of music and 30+ restaurants.
Every registration supports two nonprofit music venues that bring artists, audiences, and downtown life together all year long.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Route: Amherst to Northampton via the Norwottuck Rail Trail
Start Area: Downtown Amherst, MA
Finish Area: Downtown Northampton, MA
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Relay Hub: The TruNorth Relay Hub at The Quarters, Hadley
Finish: Brewster Court in downtown Northampton, at Taste of Northampton
Course Support Ends at 1:00 PM
POWERED BY BUENO Y SANO
course highlights
The Drake and Amherst Common start
The Norwottuck Rail Trail
Hadley farmland and views of the Holyoke Range
The Connecticut River bridge crossing
The TruNorth Relay Hub at The Quarters
A downtown Northampton finish at Taste of Northampton, near The Iron Horse
OVERVIEW
Join us for Miles for Music, a unique 8.2 mile race, relay, and walk connecting Amherst and Northampton in support of two beloved nonprofit music venues: The Drake and The Iron Horse.
Travel the scenic Norwottuck Rail Trail while enjoying live music along the route and helping support local artists, nonprofit live music, and the vibrant valley these venues serve.
Choose the full 8-mile course, the approximate 5 & 5 Relay, or walk at your own pace. However you participate, you'll be part of a celebration of music, movement, and community.
Distances
8.2-Mile Run/Walk — A scenic point-to-point route from Amherst to Northampton.
The Team Relay Challenge — A two-person relay option with one participant completing 5 miles and the other completing a 5K-ish. Relay teams will hand off at The Quarters in Hadley, right on the rail trail.
Walkers Welcome — Walkers are welcome for the full course and relay options.
Registration Includes:
Entry into the 8-mile race/walk or approximate 5 & 5 Relay
A scenic and supported point-to-point course along the Norwottuck Rail Trail
Live music along the route
Finish celebration at Taste of Northampton
Food Voucher to use at Taste of Northampton for the first 500 registered participants
Shuttle service to Start/Finish and Relay points
T-Shirt for $100 in fundraising
Community connection and direct support for local nonprofit music venues
Notes:
Rain or Shine
No dogs permitted
No refunds
Miles For Music
Sunday, September 13th, 2026
8.2-mile run, relay, and walk from Amherst to Northampton
Run the trail. Support the scene.
Can’t make Miles For Music but still want to support?
You can still make a difference and support live music in the Valley!
Every contribution helps make music more accessible to our community while ensuring artists and educators are paid fairly for their work. Donate to The Iron Horse’s Miles For Music team and help build a strong live music scene — one that boosts downtown vitality, breaks down cost barriers, and creates more opportunities for artists and audiences alike.
You can make a donation here.
For more information about The Drake, please visit thedrakeamherst.org.
For any questions, please email info@ironhorse.org.
Why we're doing it
Miles for Music supports two beloved nonprofit venues: The Drake in Amherst and The Iron Horse in Northampton. While many people know these spaces as places to experience great live music, fewer may realize that both are nonprofit organizations working to keep music, artists, and community gathering spaces strong in the Valley.
When music venues thrive, our downtowns thrive. Live music brings people into restaurants, shops, and small businesses, supports local jobs, and creates the kind of energy that makes our communities feel alive.
Miles for Music is part of a broader Valley-wide effort to strengthen our shared music ecosystem, support downtown vitality, and build deeper collaboration between Amherst and Northampton.
Run the trail. Support the scene.
