<\/p>\n
A holiday worthy of distinction every year, this year\u2019s Fourth of July celebrations will carry even more meaning as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday.<\/p>\n
To recognize the occasion, special events will be popping up all over the country this summer in honor of the semiquincentennial.<\/p>\n
With the help of NEPA Racing, the City of Pittston is now set to celebrate the Fourth of July in style \u2014 a footrace through the city streets.<\/p>\n
The inaugural Pittston Patriot Classic 5K will embark from Main Street at 9 a.m. on July 4, the latest jewel on NEPA Racing\u2019s calendar.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always thought Pittston is a place that would be perfect for a NEPA Racing event,\u201d NEPA Racing director Dave Bass said. \u201cDowntown Pittston is a really cool place \u2026 once I was approached by Mayor (Michael) Lombardo, it was like the stars aligned.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the latest NEPA Racing event to touch down in Luzerne County, slotting in alongside races like March\u2019s Diamond City Shamrock 5K, the Harveys Lake Run coming up next month and the Back Mountain Triathlon set for the end of August.<\/p>\n
Come the Fourth of July, the Tomato Capital of the World will take its turn to get in on the fun.<\/p>\n
\u201dThis year we\u2019ve really been looking at our events and where we can add something new,\u201d Pittston City Main Street manager Mary Kroptavich said. \u201cWe weren\u2019t able to hold the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade 5K, so this felt like a great way to fill that gap and still give people something to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 5K will follow the same course already in place from the city\u2019s annual Tomato Festival 5K, a trek that will start and stop at the Tomato Festival lower parking lot on Main Street.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make it as fun an event as possible,\u201d Bass said. \u201cPeople could hang around and just enjoy the holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n
A staple of NEPA Racing\u2019s events no matter where they\u2019re 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).<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Shop with A Cop holiday program, which pairs local children with police officers to do some holiday shopping for their loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt matches up perfectly with the Fourth of July, America250 and service to the community,\u201d Bass said about Shop with A Cop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Pittston Patriot Classic 5K ties in perfectly with celebrating Pennsylvania\u2019s anniversary and the Fourth of July, and it\u2019s a nice way to bring people together in a different setting,\u201d Kroptavich added. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to see it come together and hopefully become something people enjoy and want to see continue.\u201d<\/p>\n