Run For Reading To Step Off On Market Day In Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — It's time to start limbering up for this year's Run For Reading in Newtown Borough.

The annual 5K Race and Walk, benefiting the oldest, continuously operating library in Bucks County, is scheduled to step off on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Newtown Library Company, 114 East Centre Avenue. Registration opens at 8 a.m. with a yoga warm up at 8:45 followed by the start of the race at 9 a.m.

The 5K Race will wind its way through borough neighborhoods ending outside of the library just in time for the start of Market Day activities. A race map and registration information can be found on the library's website at https://newtownlibrarycompany.org.

Registration is $35 per person, $30 per person for groups for three or more and $40 for “day of” individual signups. Registration can be done by visiting the library's website or in person at the library. T-shirts will be available the day of the race for the first 100 participants and awards will be given to the top male and female runners.

The Run for Reading 5K is being held in conjunction with Newtown's Market Day, an old harvest season tradition where long ago local farmers brought their crops to town to sell while enjoying a day of festivities and contests.

This year's Market Day, organized by the Newtown Historic Association, will feature a used book sale at the library and live music, food, children’s events, hayrides, games, high-quality crafters, colonial-era demonstrations and lots more centered in around the Court Inn located at the intersection of Court Street and Centre Avenue.

For more information about the 5K Race or becoming a sponsor, call the Newtown Library Company at 215-968-7659, email librarian@newtownlibrary.com or visit https://newtownlibrarycompany.org.

The library itself is a treasure trove of information and worth an in person visit. Its collection includes books printed by Benjamin Franklin, including the notes from the Assembly of Pennsylvania when it was meeting in Philadelphia in the 1700s.

The building also houses two chairs that originally belonged to William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, and an original sign painted by primitive artist Edward Hicks, who is known for his various “Peaceable Kingdom” paintings.

The library is located at 114 East Centre Avenue, Newtown 18940. For information, call 215-968-7659 or email librarian.newtownlibrary@gmail.com