The 2026 Happy Girls Sisters race brought hundreds of runners to Sisters on Saturday, October 24, drawing participants from across Oregon and beyond for a weekend of outdoor recreation, community celebration and support for the local economy.
Nearly 775 runners registered for this year’s event across the half marathon, 10K and 5K distances. Registration data shows that approximately 45% of participants with available geographic information came from outside Central Oregon, with runners representing 23 states and Washington, D.C.
Based on participant registration data and estimated visitor spending, Happy Girls Sisters may have generated approximately $97,000 in direct visitor spending across Central Oregon during race weekend. This preliminary estimate accounts for potential spending on accommodations, dining, shopping and other local services by out-of-region runners and their accompanying guests. While spending was not directly surveyed, the estimate illustrates the event’s potential contribution to fall tourism in Sisters and neighboring communities, including Bend and Redmond.
“Happy Girls Sisters is about so much more than race day,” said Aaron Switzer, Event Producer. “We’re proud to bring runners from across the country to experience Sisters in the fall, support local businesses and celebrate everything that makes this community special.”
The weekend kicked off Friday evening with Girls Night Out at FivePine Lodge, featuring packet pickup, local vendors and opportunities for participants to connect before race day. On Saturday, runners explored the scenic Peterson Ridge Trail system and downtown Sisters before gathering for a post-race celebration featuring food, drinks, music and awards.
Beyond its tourism impact, Happy Girls Sisters also gives back to the community. This year’s event supported the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), with $1 from every registration benefiting the organization, along with an additional $1,114 in donations. Together, these contributions help support SPRD’s year-round recreation, sports and enrichment programs for Sisters-area youth and families.
The Sisters Park & Recreation District serves thousands of local children and families annually through youth sports, summer camps, after-school programs, outdoor recreation and other community activities.
As Happy Girls Sisters looks ahead to another year of bringing runners together, organizers are already preparing for the 2027 event. Registration for Happy Girls Sisters 2027 will open soon, inviting runners to return for another memorable fall weekend in Sisters.
For race updates and registration announcements, visit www.bendraces.com.
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
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