Supporters of all ages showed up to celebrate ability, connection, and community.

GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K Brings Inclusion, Joy, and Community to Otsiningo Park

The GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K returned to Otsiningo Park in Binghamton on Saturday, May 16, 2026, bringing together runners, walkers, families, volunteers, community partners, and supporters for a morning centered around inclusion, acceptance, and celebration.

Hosted as part of the GiGi’s 5K — Dash for Down Syndrome, the event featured a competitive 5K race, a 1-mile inspirational walk, a kids dash, community partner tables, snacks, drinks, awards, and plenty of moments that reminded everyone why this event matters. Whether participants came to race, walk, cheer, volunteer, or support a loved one, the morning carried the same message: every person belongs, every finish line matters, and community is stronger when it shows up together.

Smiles were everywhere as participants celebrated movement, friendship, and inclusion.

A Morning of Running, Walking, and Celebration

The 2026 GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K began with runner check-in and packet pickup in the morning before the 5K race kicked off at 9:00 a.m. From there, the schedule continued with warmups, the popular “Plank for Pies,” runner awards, the 1-mile inspirational walk, and the kids dash.

The format made the morning welcoming for everyone. Competitive runners had a chance to test themselves on the 5K course, families and supporters could participate in the 1-mile walk, and younger participants had their own moment to shine in the kids dash. That mix of competition, fun, and encouragement is exactly what makes community races so powerful.

Event Details

• Event: GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K — Dash for Down Syndrome
• Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
• Location: Otsiningo Park, 1 Otsiningo Park, Binghamton, NY
• Race Start: 9:00 a.m.
• Events: Competitive 5K, 1-mile inspirational walk, kids dash
• Purpose: To foster inclusion, acceptance, and support for GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier

Volunteers helped create a welcoming and organized race day experience for runners, walkers, and families.

What Is GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier?

GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier is a Down Syndrome Achievement Center located in Johnson City, New York. The Southern Tier location opened in 2019 and provides direct educational, therapeutic, and community-based programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the broader community.

Programs at GiGi’s Playhouse are designed for all ages, from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. The Playhouse supports literacy, math skills, motor skills, self-esteem, workforce preparation, family connection, and lifelong development. One of the most important parts of the GiGi’s Playhouse model is that programs are offered free of charge, helping remove financial barriers for families while creating a positive and empowering environment.

The broader mission of GiGi’s Playhouse is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. Events like the Southern Tier 5K help bring that mission into the community in a visible, joyful, and active way.

The starting line was filled with excitement as the community came together to support GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier.

Why This Race Matters

Community races are about more than miles. They bring people together around a shared purpose, and the GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K does that beautifully.

For some participants, the day was about running a strong 5K. For others, it was about walking alongside family and friends. For volunteers, it was a chance to serve. For families connected to GiGi’s Playhouse, it was a reminder that they are supported by a community that sees, celebrates, and values their loved ones.

That is the heart of the event: inclusion in motion. Every runner, walker, child, volunteer, sponsor, and spectator helped create a morning that reflected the message of acceptance that GiGi’s Playhouse works to build every day.

Race Results

Official results for the 2026 GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K are now available through Falcon Race Timing. Falcon listed the event as the Dash for Acceptance 5K, held at Otsiningo Park in Binghamton on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Congratulations to every runner, walker, family member, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this year’s event such a meaningful morning. From the competitive 5K to the inspirational walk and kids dash, the day reflected the heart of GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier: acceptance, inclusion, celebration, and community.

• Overall Results: View the full 2026 overall results from Falcon Race Timing
• Age Group Results: View the full 2026 age group results from Falcon Race Timing

The results tell one part of the race day story, but the bigger story was the community that showed up to move together, cheer together, and support a more accepting Southern Tier.

Thank You to the Runners, Walkers, Volunteers, and Supporters

Events like this happen because people show up. Thank you to the runners who raced, the walkers who joined the inspirational mile, the kids who brought energy to the dash, the families who cheered, the volunteers who kept the morning moving, and the community partners who helped make the event possible.

Confluence Running is proud to support events that use movement to build community. The GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K is a strong reminder that running and walking can do more than bring people to a finish line — they can help build awareness, connection, and acceptance across the Southern Tier.

Families and friends moved together in support of free programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Helpful Links

• GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier
• GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier 5K Event Page
• Falcon Race Timing Event Page
• 2026 Overall Race Results
• 2026 Age Group Race Results
• Broome County Parks: Otsiningo Park
• Broome County Parks, Recreation & Youth Services

Keep Supporting GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier

Even after race day, the mission continues. GiGi’s Playhouse Southern Tier relies on volunteers, donors, families, community partners, and local supporters to keep its programs accessible and free for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Whether you ran, walked, donated, volunteered, sponsored, or cheered from the sidelines, your support helps create a more accepting and inclusive community.

Happy Running.