Harrisonburg
Open Doors
15 Walkers|5 Teams|78 Days Left
The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities. Let’s gather together for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there.
About Open Doors
Join us for our second Coldest Night of the Year 5km and 2km walk! An empathetic experience and a mission driven fundraiser to support Open Doors!
The mission of Open Doors is to provide safe shelter for the unhoused, as well as compassionate support and access to services for all in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community.
Our work and our values are rooted in dignity, integrity, compassion, advocacy, and kindness.
We began serving our community with thermal shelter services in 2007 under the name HARTS (Harrisonburg and Rockingham Thermal Shelter). In 2013, HARTS became Open Doors.
Our services and support have grown tremendously as we celebrated our first-year anniversary operating out of the Navigation Center in November of 2025. The center is home to a low-barrier emergency shelter for adults, and a weekday daytime drop-in center, extending critical services to the greater Harrisonburg and Rockingham Community whether housed or unhoused.
In 2025, Open Doors provided emergency shelter for 348 unique individuals, supported 229 unique individuals through our Drop-in Center, and connected 48 guests with long-term housing solutions. We carry out our mission for our community, with our community.
Want to learn more about our mission, who we serve, and how we support our community? Visit us at https://www.valleyopendoors.org/aboutus
Come join us for a night of fun and make a difference at the same time this February as you walk for a cause.
Harrisonburg Scoreboard
Are you thrashing the competition (for a good cause)? Find out here! Stats are updated every 15 minutes. See how you stack up on the national scoreboard >
Community Sponsors
Harrisonburg (Open Doors) is super grateful for our fantastic 2026 sponsors! View all sponsors >
Event Day Details
Save the date - CNOY Day is February 28, 2026!
Start/Finish Google Map
4808 S. Valley Pike Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Schedule
- 4:00 pm: Meet Check-in
- 4:45 pm: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks
- 5:00 pm: Move Send-off
- 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 7:00 pm: Mosey Goodbye + see you in 2027!
Not able to join us in person at the Main Event? We hope you'll register, fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.
Route Details
- Route Distances: Check out the maps below to see where we will be walking.
- Rest stop: Keep an eye out for opportunities to rest and refresh with yummy snacks along the route.
- Signage: Routes will be well-signed with our bold blue CNOY signs.
- Route Support: Route marshals, rest stop hosts, and support vehicle drivers provide support along the route.
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
- No Pets: We love our little furballs like you do, but pets are not permitted at the Coldest Night of the Year except for approved and trained service animals. Read more about our pet policy >
Check- in
- All walkers participating at the Main Event on Saturday, February 28, 2026 must check-in upon arrival.
- Beanies! Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a CNOY Beanie as a thank you on event day, while supplies last.
- Offsite fundraising walkers can contact their local event director to arrange toque pickup the week of the event.
Have questions? Visit the FAQ section!
Handling Money
- Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatically tax receipted for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the CNOY Head Office.
- Checks: The Old Faithful - made out to Coldest Night of the Year with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to CNOY Head Office along with your completed pledge form.
- Cash: You have 2 options:
- 1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Checks,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...
- 2. Write a check (made out to “Coldest Night of the Year”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to the CNOY Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.
Waivers
All participants must register online and accept the electronic waiver.
- Adults accept the waiver automatically when they register online.
- Youth/Children under the age of majority need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
- An online form will be emailed to all parents/guardians before CNOY Day.
- You may also bring a filled-out printed waiver.
- Waivers will also be available at check-in on CNOY Day.
What to Bring
A few common sense suggestions:
- A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
- Good waterproof shoes/boots for walking
- Warm coat and mitts/gloves
- Extra snacks if you have allergies or food sensitivities
- Your own water bottle
- A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for!
2025 CNOY Photos
Special thanks to our many amazing volunteer photographers!
Contact Us
CNOY Harrisonburg 2026
Penny Naden Marketing and Development Coordinator
Phone 540.705.1908
Email penny@valleyopendoors.org