The 2026 Marathon Dance will be held on March 6-7 at the South Glens Falls Senior High School. Opening ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m. Friday evening. Community members can donate to the dance in a variety of ways. Each of the approximately 650 students signed up to participate is required to collect a minimum of $175. You can choose to donate to an individual student’s total online, or the Marathon Dance in general, through the “Donate” tab on our website at www.shmd.org. The district’s middle and elementary schools also conduct various Marathon Dance fundraising activities. Fifth graders and certain middle schoolers even have their own time slot to participate at SHMD!

• Fifth grade students who were registered should arrive at 7:45 a.m. for their 8-9 dance slot. 

• Middle School dancers (those who have successfully fundraised $150) should arrive at 9:45 a.m. for their 10-11 a.m. dance slot. 

• Official dance shirts will be given to students attending the dance at school today (Friday, March 6).

This event is open to the public, from 5 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Parents of Elementary and Middle School students may enter with their children at 8-10 a.m. respectively on Saturday, March 7, with the rest of the public entering at 11 a.m. Only registered participants, and others as indicated in the official schedule, are permitted on the gym floor. Additionally, seating is limited in the main Bulldog gym where the dance takes place; spectators may be directed to alternate viewing areas. Information regarding parking and shuttle buses will be available on our website and Facebook page.

We hope that you will be able to join us for this wonderful event. It is a truly moving experience to witness a community that comes together to help those in need.

Please be sure to visit our website at www.shmd.org, and follow us on social media (Facebook: South High Marathon Dance Inc., TikTok: @shmdnow, and Instagram:@southhighmarathondance) for additional information and to view the Marathon Dance live the weekend of the event!

The 49th annual South High Marathon Dance will be held March 6-7 at the South Glens Falls Senior High School located on Merritt Road. Due to the size of the event, the following parking and traffic flow procedures have been implemented. Please note we have reduced the number of parking lots from previous years.

• To facilitate the flow of shuttle buses and traffic, we ask there to be NO PARKING on either side of Merritt Road or Elmwood Drive starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6 until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 7.

• Parking at the Senior High School BACK PARKING LOT will be limited to current Marathon Dance recipients, handicap, and those with special permits. FRONT LOT will be open on a first come first serve basis.

  • Several 15-minute parking spots will be in place in the back lot for pick-up or drop-off.

  • Dancer drop-off Friday night will be via the backlot; enter off Merritt Road only, same as 2025.

• All people visiting the Senior High School must enter through a security checkpoint at the back of the building.

• A bus shuttle will run from designated parking areas to the Senior High School, cycling continuously, during the following times:

  • Friday, March 6, 5 – 11 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 7, 8 a.m. – Dance Finale.

• Parking for volunteers and spectators, with bus shuttles, will be available at Tanglewood Elementary

  School, Kingpin’s Alley, and the Maplewood Parkway Methodist Church.

  • When parking at a satellite parking area, please be sure to get out of your vehicle and wave to the bus when it cycles through the parking lot.

  • During times when the bus shuttle is not running (11 p.m. Friday, through 8 a.m. Saturday), the parking lot at the Senior High School will be open.

This parking plan is being implemented due to the limited parking at the high school and the need to keep roads leading to the school open for traffic flow.

All Persons and Belongings Subject to Search

Implemented in 2018, any persons entering the Senior High School, to include students, staff, visitors, and deliveries should expect to be screened, including belongings (such as bags, containers, boxes, etc.). Guns, knives and other weapons, alcohol, recreational drugs, fireworks, sparkling devices, and potentially hazardous material are not permitted on school property. The use of tobacco, nicotine, vape devices, and similar products is not permitted on school property. The Marathon Dance strongly discourages general spectators from bringing bags to this event.

Safety and Security Measures in Place

The Marathon Dance will continue a variety of safety measures which have been implemented through the years. Law enforcement canines will be present prior to, and periodically during the event. Armed law enforcement, both uniformed and undercover, will be present throughout the entirety of the weekend. A Fire Safety Team will be present to enforce gym capacity, keep watch for fire and other hazards, and ensure egress routes are maintained. Satellite parking areas with shuttle bus service are in place to alleviate congestion at the Senior High School and impact on nearby roads. A dedicated Security Detail and Medical Staff was established in the 1980’s and continues to maintain a safe and secure environment.

Remain Alert and Report any Concerns

We have a shared responsibility to keep our community safe. Be aware of your surroundings; whether at the event or in a parking area, take note of any suspicious objects, persons, or potential hazards and report it promptly to Marathon Dance staff. If you become aware of someone who may have malicious intent, take what you hear or see seriously. Familiarize yourself with bus shuttle routes, building exits, public viewing areas, and the Dance schedule. Finally, please be polite to the safety and security staff. While certain arrangements may be inconvenient, they are in place for the safety of all involved.