Kick off the New Year at the LEGOLAND California Kids Marathon Mile

LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad hosts its annual Kids Marathon Mile on January 14, 2023. This fun and family-friendly event is designed to promote healthy living and active lifestyles while giving to a good cause. It is a non-competitive event, so all kids are encouraged to participate, regardless of their fitness level. The course is designed to be lively and engaging, with plenty of entertainment along the way.

The event will begin at 6:30 AM, when the LEGOLAND parking lot opens, and event day registration will start at 6:45 AM. The race will begin at 7:45 AM.

Participation in the Kids Marathon Mile includes a number of perks and benefits. Kids (ages 13 and under) will receive a souvenir event t-shirt, a finisher’s medal, a free one-day SEA LIFE Hopper ticket to LEGOLAND California and the SEA LIFE Aquarium, discounted SEA LIFE Hopper tickets for up to four people, a one-day pass to the invite-only Carlsbad Columbia Sportswear Employee Store and a “Be Our Guest” coupon for a free scoop of ice cream at Handel’s. Big kids (age 14 and older) will receive a souvenir event t-shirt, a finisher’s medal, discounted SEA LIFE Hopper tickets for up to four people, a “Be Our Guest” coupon for a free scoop of ice cream at Handel’s and a one-day pass to the invite-only Carlsbad Columbia Sportswear Employee Store.

The course starts just outside of the LEGOLAND main entrance, continues through the park and finishes outside the park along the Tyke Hike. There will be a wave start to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants. The Marathon Mile is all about fun – it is not officially timed and no awards or results will be posted. 

Registration for the Kids Marathon Mile is at https://inmotionevents.com/event/kids-marathon-mile/. New registrations will also be taken the morning of the event. Book a stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel or LEGOLAND Castle Hotel for the night before the race and get up to 30% off your stay.  

In addition to the in-person one-mile run/walk through LEGOLAND, there will also be a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in person. Virtual ‘racers’ can complete the mile at their own pace, in their own time, wherever they want.

To top it off, all proceeds from the Kids Marathon Mile go to support Merlin’s Magic Wand, a charity organization that provides magical experiences to seriously ill, disabled and disadvantaged children. Merlin’s Magic Wand works with over 100 partner organizations around the world to provide these experiences, which can include visits to LEGOLAND theme parks, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers and other Merlin Entertainments attractions.

Merlin’s Magic Wand was founded in 2007, and since then, it has provided over 1.5 million magical experiences to children in need. In addition to providing these experiences, Merlin’s Magic Wand also supports children’s hospitals and other organizations that provide care and support to seriously ill, disabled, and disadvantaged children.

If you want to support the work of Merlin’s Magic Wand, there are several ways you can do so. You can make a donation to the organization through its website, or you can participate in events like the Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND California. You can also support Merlin’s Magic Wand by purchasing LEGO products through the LEGO website, as a portion of the proceeds from these purchases goes to support the charity.

The Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND California is an exciting family-friendly event that promotes healthy living and active lifestyles for kids of all ages. Whether you’re a parent looking for a fun and healthy activity for your kids, or a supporter of Merlin’s Magic Wand, the Kids Marathon Mile is a great way to kick off the New Year!