Run the River
- Date
- August 1, 2026
- Location
- 160 Market St, Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Distance
- 5K · Other
- Price
- $25
From the Organizer
It’s the 3rd Annual NEPA Run the River Race — a water-themed 5K Fun Run & Mile Walk!
This year, NEPA Summer in the City is back in Wilkes-Barre to host their “Day Downtown Festival,” but we know it wouldn’t be a full day without a nice morning run/walk around Kirby Park to get us stretched out for the day's fun!
Volunteers will line the course armed with water to cool you off during the course and keep with the water-theme of our race! Don’t want to get wet? No worries… just choose the right color shirt when registering. Blue means water and white means no water!
Medals will be given for the fastest in every age-group and to the top three overall male and female finishers. 1.25 mile Fun Run option is also available to kids 12 and under! Or, for the same distance, anyone can participate in the walk.
TEAM COMPETITION! Sponsors, businesses, running clubs, XC teams — this is for you!!! When registering, you can create OR join an existing team. A team trophy (and bragging rights of course) will be awarded to the team with the fastest average time amongst their top five finishers.
Registration/Pricing:
$25.00 — before July 6th
$30.00 — July 6th July 31st
$35.00 — on August 1st (morning of)
All proceeds will go towards supporting CASA of Wyoming Valley.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
84°
Typical Low
63°
Chance of Rain
38%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Wilkes-Barre Intl Ap, 10 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Wilkes-Barre, PA
City Elevation
542 ft
Nearest Airport
AVP
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport · 10 mi
Major Hub
EWR
Newark Liberty International Airport · 97 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Run the River, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
Coming Up
More Running races near Wilkes-Barre, PA
Rae of Sunshine 5K
1 Mile · 5K · From $20 · 210 Rock Street
8 miles away
43rd Annual Bernie's Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run
5K · Other · From $5 · 46 Public Square
Less than a mile away
Black Diamond Series - Iron Horse 8k
Other · From $35 · 1000 Montage Mountain Road
13 miles away
18th Annual Pauly Friedman 5K Family Walk / Run
5K · From $25 · 613 S J Strauss Lane
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Run the River?
- Run the River is a running race held in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on August 1, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Run the River?
- Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at 160 Market St. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Run the River?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Run the River
Aug 1, 2026