Where to Cheer, Party, and Gawk in Genuine Awe During The 2025 NYC Marathon

By Rae Witte

On Sunday, November 2, more than 50,000 runners, walkers, and gliders from all over the world will be lining up in Staten Island, setting their marks, and putting foot or wheel to 26.2 miles of pavement for the 2025 New York City Marathon, a herculean city-wide event at any pace and from any vantage, that turns the five boroughs into one colossal block party.

This year’s installment promises to be an even bigger fete of feet and fundraising, with millions of anticipated spectators joining  participants on the sidewalks all along the course, from the other side of the Verrazzano Bridge to the iconic Central Park finishline, pulling up to party, cheer on a loved one, and, due to the relatively recent “it”-ness of running as hobby, brand activation, and basis of personality, capitalize on an unbelievable amout of free food, drink, and merch opportunities (and who could blame them, really?)

All of which is to say, the action will be in damn-near all directions this weekend (though, in Brooklyn, most acutely on 4th Avenue from Bensonhurst to Park Slope, Lafayette Avenue from Fort Greene to Bed-Stuy, and Bedford Avenue from Williamsburg to Greenpoint), bookended by Fight Night proper on one end and Marathon Day on the other. And however you choose to burn what’s left in the tank after a rare Halloweekend is the right way to do so.

Still, it’s not lost on us just how many options are before you. Scroll on for some of our recommendations on where to post up and watch the pure and exhilarating spectacle of the 2025 New York Marathon.

Courtesy of The Lot Radio

On x The Lot Radio Cheer Section
50 Bedford Avenue
Sneaker and athletic wear brand On is partnering up with the Greenpoint institution that is The Lot Radio, which is both conveniently located somewhere near the center of the race and one of the best possible curators of Marathon Day frequencies. They’ll be at mile 12, just a few blocks from The Lot’s plot,  offering mid-race support to the runners, cheer supplies like cowbells and sign creation stations ready to the crowd, and DJ Tara, Chances with Wolves, and DJ Stretch Armstrong taking turns on the decks.

Saint James Joy Party
279 Lafayette Avenue
This Sunday, Saint James Joy, the father/son DJ duo who are no strangers to these pages, will return to their posts in front of Emmanuel Baptist Church at the corner of Lafayette and St. James Place, to provide a score for the reliable scene of runners and dedicated cheerleaders along that little downhill straightaway from Clinton Hill into Bed-Stuy. The soundtrack starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until whenever.

Courtesy of Usal Projects

Usal Project x Freaks of Nature Cheer Section
905 Lorimer Ave.
Usal Project, an LA-based brand building community amongst nature enthusiast, has slowly but surely been making its imprint on New York. And for this Sunday’s race, they’re joining forces with sports sunscreen brand Freaks of Nature to release a collaborative, couldn’t-be-more-timely deodorant. Ray’s Hometown Bar in Williamsburg will act as their outpost for the day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., where they’ll be filling bellies and fueling cheers with food, beer, tunes, a madlib-style make-your-own-sign station, and gear giveaways all day.

Courtesy of MMM Atletico

MMM Atletico Cheer Section
McGuinnes Blvd and Green St. 
Bushwick-based adventure community MMM Atletico hosts weekly runs out of Maria Hernandez Park, as well as other outdoor activities like group climbs and bike rides. Fresh off their Chicago Marathon installation earlier this month, MMM will be front-and-center at the New York Marathon’s midpoint, with two megaphones working the crowd and bringing energy to runners from their community runners, and everyone flanking the course to support participants. The event begins in Greenpoint from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., before heading towards the photo finish in Central Park.

Courtesy of Whisk & Whiskey

Whisk & Whiskey’s 4th Annual Cheer Station
259 4th Ave. 
Is there a cheer section more sure to turn up than one posted at a bar and bakery for the early-ish miles of the run? This one starts at 8 a.m. with sounds by DJ Cha Cha, grab-and-go coffee, and, of course, a complimentary whiskey tasting. Inside, their full menu will be available, along with $12 mimosas and Bloody Marys as drink specials.

Courtesy of Eavesdrop

Eavesdrop Halfway Point with Bandit Running, A2Z Radio and House Under Magic
674 Manhattan Ave. 
For the audiophiles, Eavesdrop is running back their third iteration of Halfway Point–a Marathon Day sidewalk cheer zone. This year, it’s powered by House Under Magic’s Industry Standard audio mixer, making its debut for the party, and they’re getting neighbors Bandit and A2Z Radio involved. The start time is at 10 a.m., and there will be free coffee (while supplies last). Throughout the rest of the day, the cheer crew can expect cocktail specials, merch drops, and a new DJ every hour until 3 p.m.

Courtesy of Good Bar

Good Bar NYC Marathon Block Party
1 Bedford Ave.
Opening up bright and early during Halloween weekend, Good Bar‘s annual marathon block party starts at 9 a.m. this year. They’ll be taking over their strip between Nassau and Bedford, serving food and drinks all day, while Party Dad, Supadupaflyblackboy, and FLIN take the music from start to finish.

Courtesy of Dashing Whippets

Dashing Whippets Marathon Cheer Zone with Hydra Pak
4th Ave. & St Mark’s Pl.
Dashing Whippets Running Team is a training community with 10 organized weekly runs that meet across the city, from Central Park to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. They do speed training, long runs, and casual easy group runs, and they’re holding down the 4th Avenue stretch at St. Mark’s Place in Boerum Hill at the 7.75-mile mark starting at 9 a.m., because those early miles need love, too.

Courtesy of Faves

Faves NYC Marathon Cheer Zone
772 Manhattan Ave. 
Athletic gear retailer Faves is setting up shop at Greenpoint cafe Paloma Coffee & Bakery starting at 9 a.m., offering the first 100 supporters free coffee and pastries, as well as goodies from their long list of partners–including Momentous, Neuro Gum, Novos, and Spoonful–to share with whichever loved one you’re pulling to cross the finish line on Sunday.