CLEARFIELD – The second Clearfield Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk and Fall Festival will be “bigger and better” this year, according to Main Street Manager Kellie Truman of the Clearfield Revitalization Corp.
The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 13 and kicks off with the Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk. Race registration begins at 7 a.m.; Old Mooley will blow at 8:30 a.m. to signal the start of the race.
Racers may still pre-register through Monday, Oct. 1. Pre-registration is $15 and includes a race T-shirt. After that deadline, registration will be $20 and will be offered race day.
The Parade of Paws will be featured during a one-mile route in this year’s race. The CRC partnered with the Gateway Humane Society of Falls Creek, and participants will be able to walk sheltered dogs, Truman said.
She said that the Gateway Humane Society will be present at the festival so that attendees can adopt the dogs. However, she said race participants aren’t obligated to provide a forever home, and the dogs will be happy just to walk with someone.
Truman said they will have approximately 10 to 15 dogs available to be walked in the “trial mile.” She said the CRC already has a waiting list of people who are interested if there should be an opening.
Participants who have a furry companion are asked to donate $10. Of the donations, 50 percent will directly benefit the Gateway Humane Society.
“So far as we know, all of the dogs have been adopted for someone to walk,” she said. She said Parade of Paws registration will be held at the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library parking lot; the Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk registration will be held at the Market Square.
Last year, she said the CRC had approximately 200 participants and registration has been as steady as last year. She expects more participants to register at the last minute.
Race applications are available at the CRC office or the event’s web site. Out-of-town participants can also register on Active.com.
Truman said the CRC welcomes participants to bring their dogs or child strollers. However, she said they ask any participant who doesn’t plan on running to begin the race toward the back.
Fall festival activities will get under way immediately following the Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk. Vendors will be lined along East Market, North Third and East Locust streets in downtown Clearfield and open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. As of Friday, the CRC had received 90 vendor applications.
Truman said vendors will offer primitive crafts and woodworking, costume jewelry and everyone’s favorite fall foods. They’ll feature an array of children’s games and activities.
The festival will also have storybook times, hayrides, a bouncy house and a taco-eating contest. The downtown businesses will be offering sidewalk sales during the festival, she said.
She said attendees will be treated to live entertainment on two stages. The main stage will be located on Market Street near Temple Avenue, while the north stage will be located on North Third Street near Church Street.
Truman said the main stage will feature performances from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. by Dirt Road Drivers and from 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. by Jerry Schickling. The north stage will have performances from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. by Heavenbound and New Covenant.
In addition, she said the CRC partnered with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 972 of Clearfield. She said they typically host their car show at the Clearfield Driving Park. However, it’ll move downtown and will be located in the parking lot along North Third and East Locust streets across from Zalno’s Jewelers.
“It’s going to be right downtown in the festival. It’s a win-win for us both,” said Truman. “It’s wonderful to bring it all together for one event.”
She said the car show registration will be held from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the parking lot. Anyone with questions or inquires about the car show should contact Dave Gallaher.
The car show winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. on the main stage before the close of the festival.
Truman would like to thank CRC promotions committee members Rob and Heather Bozovich, Joe Kelly, Holly Bloom, Brock Shaffer and Matt Checchio. She said the festival wouldn’t be possible without their dedication to planning and ideas.
She also thanked all of the festival’s sponsors for helping the CRC make it a free, family-friendly event. Race and festival sponsors will be accepted through Sept. 28.
“My favorite part is the final product of everyone coming together,” she said. “It’s truly an example of working together as one big community.”
Truman said local cub and boy/girl scouts will be decorating for fall with cornstalks Saturday, Sept. 22 throughout downtown Clearfield.
For additional information about the Clearfield Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk visit the event’s web site or Facebook page. For additional information about the CRC visit its web site and Facebook page.