A holiday worthy of distinction every year, this year’s Fourth of July celebrations will carry even more meaning as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday.

To recognize the occasion, special events will be popping up all over the country this summer in honor of the semiquincentennial.

With the help of NEPA Racing, the City of Pittston is now set to celebrate the Fourth of July in style — a footrace through the city streets.

The inaugural Pittston Patriot Classic 5K will embark from Main Street at 9 a.m. on July 4, the latest jewel on NEPA Racing’s calendar.

“I’ve always thought Pittston is a place that would be perfect for a NEPA Racing event,” NEPA Racing director Dave Bass said. “Downtown Pittston is a really cool place … once I was approached by Mayor (Michael) Lombardo, it was like the stars aligned.”

It’s the latest NEPA Racing event to touch down in Luzerne County, slotting in alongside races like March’s Diamond City Shamrock 5K, the Harveys Lake Run coming up next month and the Back Mountain Triathlon set for the end of August.

Come the Fourth of July, the Tomato Capital of the World will take its turn to get in on the fun.

”This year we’ve really been looking at our events and where we can add something new,” Pittston City Main Street manager Mary Kroptavich said. “We weren’t able to hold the St. Patrick’s Parade 5K, so this felt like a great way to fill that gap and still give people something to look forward to.”

The 5K will follow the same course already in place from the city’s annual Tomato Festival 5K, a trek that will start and stop at the Tomato Festival lower parking lot on Main Street.

In between, runners will head down Main Street, circle back up Kennedy Boulevard and traverse the city streets before making their final dash down Main Street to the finish line.

Waiting for them at the lot will be food trucks, some music and a whole lot of festive cheer as spectators gather to celebrate both the runners and the holiday itself.

“We want to make it as fun an event as possible,” Bass said. “People could hang around and just enjoy the holiday.”

A staple of NEPA Racing’s events no matter where they’re held is the charitable aspect: proceeds from these events are donated to local charities each time, with many of the races serving as a benefit for local first responder organizations (who are typically involved in making sure the race runs smoothly and safely).

A Greater Pittston staple will be on the receiving end of money raised for the Patriot Classic: Bass said that proceeds from this new event will go to the city’s Shop with A Cop holiday program, which pairs local children with police officers to do some holiday shopping for their loved ones.

“It matches up perfectly with the Fourth of July, America250 and service to the community,” Bass said about Shop with A Cop.

“The Pittston Patriot Classic 5K ties in perfectly with celebrating Pennsylvania’s anniversary and the Fourth of July, and it’s a nice way to bring people together in a different setting,” Kroptavich added.

“I’m excited to see it come together and hopefully become something people enjoy and want to see continue.”

Registration is now open for the Pittston Patriot Classic at my.raceresult.com, costing $25 up until May 21 and $30 by June 21. Registering by that date will come with a free race T-shirt for competitors, designed by Wet Paint in a way that nods to the skyline and character of downtown Pittston.

Anyone who misses these dates will still be able to register for the race all the way up to the morning of July 4.

One new wrinkle that NEPA Racing has added to this race will be aimed at local high school athletes: cross-country runners could include the name of their school when they register.

Whichever high school has the lowest time for its five best finishers will receive a $500 donation for their school’s cross-country program from NEPA Racing.

“The future of the sport comes from them,” Bass said.