The Citizens Bank 5K Summer Fun Run and Middletown Festival will take place tonight. Citizens Bank and The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce are working together to create the annual family-oriented festival and road race. Community members and groups, including the YMCA and the Downtown Business District, help to make the festival a success. Last year, thousands of people came to the event and runners enjoyed extensive crowd support during the race. The event also features a popular Kids Fun Run.
“Citizens Bank is proud to be the title sponsor for the 5K Summer Fun Run again this year, which brings the community together for an incredible evening of entertainment and athleticism,” said John Pitarra, Regional Manager of Citizens Bank. “We look forward to another great turnout as we work together to raise money to support so many deserving causes and organizations in our community.”
Race participants are encouraged to support Citizens Bank’s Gear for Grades program by bringing donations of new, unused school supplies. The Gear for Grades program is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program for contributing to the economic vitality of communities. School supply donations collected at the race will help ensure children return to school with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
The festival features live entertainment for Run for Cover, Oddfellows street performers, a moonwalk and giant slide, clowns, balloon arches, face painting, a DJ along the 5K race course. This year’s race also features a number of team competitions including the Pratt & Whitney Corporate Team Challenge, Urgent Ortho Healthcare Challenge, Courthouse Challenge and School Team Challenge. For team inquires please call (203) 481-5933.
This year’s 5K course again showcases Main Street and incorporates the historic Wesleyan campus. The first 500 5K entrants will receive a technical running shirt. The noncompetitive ½ mile Kids Run will precede the 5K race. Entry fees for Middletown children will be waived and all participants will receive a t-shirt and finisher’s ribbon. Oddfellows street performers will join the kids running the fun run.
The event schedule for tonight is as follows:
Raceday Schedule (Citizens Bank, Main St.)
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Raceday Registration & Packet Pickup
5:00 – 7 p.m. Clowns, Oddfellows street performers
5:00 – 9 p.m. Moonwalk; Giant Slide
6:30 p.m. ½ mile Kids Fun Run
6:45 p.m. 5K Road Race
7:00 – 8 p.m. Post race snack
7:30 p.m. Awards
7:30 – 9 p.m. Main Street Festival continues with music &
entertainment
Race President Tom Cartelli states, “The support from local businesses, City Hall, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business District, and other groups have been even better than we could have imagined.” Cartelli expects this year’s event to give a record amount to local charities. Over the last 17 years, the nonprofit event has given over $100,000 to many charities. Last year’s proceeds were donated to Chamber Mentor Program, North Middlesex YMCA, Oddfellows Playhouse, Kiwanis Club, Middletown Warm the Children, Art Farm, Amazing Grace and The Connection.
Major event sponsors include: Citizens Bank, The City of Middletown, Greater Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, Pratt & Whitney, Urgent Ortho, Middletown Teachers Federation, iluvaballoon, Radio 104.1 WMRQ, Bomba 97.1, Downtown Business District, Guilmartin, DiPiro & Sokolowski, LLC, Price Chopper, Fortuna & Cartelli, PC Attorneys and Connecticut Rental Center. To register for the 5K race or fun run, visit www.jbsports.com or pick up an application at any Citizens Bank branch. Participants can also get information by visiting www.jbsports.com or calling (203) 481-5933.