Dear Chamber Members,

There are few events that capture the spirit of our community quite like the Boilermaker. In 1978, the Boilermaker began as a 15K road race with 876 runners, created to celebrate the founding sponsor, Utica Boiler’s 50th anniversary. Today, it has grown into a week-long celebration that welcomes more than 20,000 runners, spectators, and volunteers from around the world to the Greater Utica region.

As we look ahead to the Boilermaker’s historic 50th running in 2027, the Greater Utica Chamber is proud to celebrate this milestone by hosting our August Business After Hours at the Boilermaker Road Race offices on Tuesday, August 11. This special evening will offer a behind-the-scenes look at one of our region’s greatest success stories and the exciting plans underway for this golden anniversary celebration. Attendees will learn how businesses and community members can become part of the 50th anniversary through sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, and partnerships.

The Boilermaker is more than a race—it is an economic engine, a tourism driver, and one of the world’s best examples of what can happen when businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and an entire community rally around a shared vision. It showcases everything that makes the Mohawk Valley special: hospitality, resilience, collaboration, and hometown pride.

Whether you’re a longtime runner, a dedicated volunteer, or simply someone who loves this community, I hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the Boilermaker’s incredible legacy and help build excitement for its milestone 50th anniversary. It’s sure to be one of our most memorable Business After Hours events of the year.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Kari