By Alana Moran, Hulafrog West Chester

The annual Fourth of July celebration returns to Downingtown again this year on Saturday.  Enjoy fabulous food, visit 80-100 craft exhibitors or simply enjoy one of the many activities scheduled for the day.

Don’t miss the 5k, 10k or 15k races that draw over 1,500 athletes each year. Remember to pack a blanket and to get a good spot early for the fireworks that close the day. 

The Downingtown Good Neighbor Day Committee’s activities benefit the ambulance and rescue squads within the Downingtown Area School District. Proceeds are distributed to local first-responders.

‘Mr. Downingtown,’ Phil Dague, wrote a great history of the Downingtown Good Neighbor Day last year to inform revelers of the story behind this awesome local event. Good Neighbor Day began in 1947 when, after WWII, America was in the process of trying to get back to a sense of normalcy. There were waiting lists to buy automobiles, after Detroit had spent the war years meeting the demands of the U.S. military.

Steadily, Americans were getting their hands on the first wave of cars, post war.  However at the same time gas was in short supply, and motorists were limited in how much they could drive. Just like today, the shore and the mountains were popular places for folks from our area to enjoy some leisure time, but getting away wasn’t always so easy.

To add to the dilemma was the sorry state of our roadways back then. Because of this, the leaders in Downingtown decided that they needed to find a way to convince Borough residents that it was a good idea to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday in Downingtown.

Cress Shoemaker, a man who would one day become the mayor, is widely regarded as being the man who came up with the idea for Good Neighbor Day. And so it came to be that on July 4, 1947 Downingtown had its first Good Neighbor Day.

The Downingtown Good Neighbor Day Committee and the emergency service providers’ thank you for your participation in this annual Independence Day Community Event!

Full Agenda

6:00 AM – 7:30 AM – Runners Check In and Registration for the 37th Annual “Run for Life”

6:00 AM – 7:30 AM – Walkers Check In and Registration for the 20th Annual 5K Freedom Walk

6:00 AM – 9:30 AM – Runners Check In and Registration for the 22nd Annual Kids-K Fun Run

6:30 AM to Closing – Tom Edwards Productions

7:40 AM – Prayer and Flag Ceremony

8:00 AM to 9:30 AM – 37th Annual “Run for Life” (5K, 10K, 15K)

8:00 AM to 9:30 AM – 20th Annual 5K Freedom Walk

8:00 AM to Closing – Crafts, Vendors and Food Concessions

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Post Race Refreshments

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Registration for Big Wheel Race

10:00 AM – Race Results & Essay Contest Awards – Gazebo

10:00 AM – Turks Head Exchange Club – US Flag Distribution

10:00 AM – 22nd Annual Kids-K Fun Run

10:00 AM – Registration for Canoe Races

10:00 AM – Ducks for Annual Duck Race Go On Sale

10:00 AM to Closing – Carnival Rides, Games and Food

10:30 AM – Annual Bicycle Decorating Contest

Join us for a terrific Good Neighbor Day event!  Decorate your favorite new, used or vintage bike in red, white and blue to help us celebrate America’s Birthday.  You may use streamers, pom-poms, ribbons, flags, pinwheels – the sky’s the limit!  Have fun and be creative!

Age Categories: 0-4; 5-8; 9-12; 12-15; 16+

~No pre-registration necessary~

      10:30am in Kerr Park

11:00 AM – Big Wheel Race Sponsored by Colebrook Manor Animal Hospital

11:00 AM – Canoe Race Sponsored by the Downingtown/Thorndale Rotary Club

12:30 PM – Annual Duck Race

12:30 PM – Brother Bob & Friends Band – Music

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Pennsylvania Surfers – Music

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Moondawgs – Music

5:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Jeff Domenick with Jeff Byrne – Music

6:30 PM to 8:30 PM – The Rivers Rockabilly Trio – Music

8:30 PM – Wife Carrying Competition

8:30 PM – 9:30 PM – Tom Edwards Productions Entertainment Show

DUSK – Fireworks – Grand Finale