If you’re thinking to yourself, “I don’t run, so why go into the village on the 4th of July?” there are several reasons to be there. The Harpoon Harmonizers will be performing before the Race and singing the National Anthem at the start of the Race. The Inn at Shipyard Park (formerly the Mattapoisett Inn) will be serving a light breakfast from 8:30 – 11:00 am. Lunch service will start at 11:30 am. There will be a beer tasting sponsored by Buzzards Bay Brewery from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, and Butch McCarthy will provide entertainment. The Town Wharf General Store will be open from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Body in Balance’s Jessica Cavaco will be doing a warm-up for runners. Spectators could probably do a little warming up if they wanted. The Barley Family Healthcare and Rehab will have their tent set up for post-race massages for runners.
If you live along the race route, you can decorate your yard, play music and compete for the coveted “Most Spirited Home” award. Winning this award will take some serious effort if you want to defeat past winners, the Kassabian family and the Dall family. But it might be fun to give it a shot.
When you come down to Shipyard Park or anywhere along the race route, you will see race officials in bright orange shirts. These individuals can provide whatever assistance you may need. You also can offer thanks to the Race’s Founding Father and Founding Mother (a.k.a. Bob and Doris Gardner). Long-time Race Director, Dan White, will be there in his new role as Race Mayor. And you will definitely want to give a special thanks to current Race Director, Bill Tilden. It will be easy to find him – he will be the one in the “hot pink” shirt.
But the main reason for coming out to support the Mattapoisett Road Race is simple. It is the quintessential “small town America” event. It represents what makes the 4th of July and our country so special.