Judging by the “too numerous to mention” race calendar listings, running on the 4th of July is a popular tradition in Western Pennsylvania. Here are two local favorites that celebrate the day with community, patriotism and fun.

Firecracker 5K and 1-Mile has raced through Zelienople on the 4th of July for 15 years. This year’s event is presented by Experience Butler County as part of its Celebration 250 Festivities.

"The Firecracker 5K is a great way for people of all ages and abilities to celebrate Independence Day while supporting one of our community's greatest assets, Zelienople Community Park," said Race Director Joella Baker of Get Fit Families. A portion of race proceeds benefit the park, a hub of activity on any day.

Firecracker 1-Mile starts in Zelie Park at 8 a.m. with a flat and fast loop around town. The 5K, which features a challenging climb up Cemetery Hill, begins when the mile run/walk is complete, at approximately 8:15-8:20. This gives runners an opportunity to complete both distances if desired.

"Whether you're aiming for a personal best, walking with friends, pushing a stroller, or participating with your dog, this event offers something for everyone," Baker said.

In addition to its 15th anniversary, this year’s Firecracker 5K also celebrates the 250th Anniversary of our country’s Declaration of Independence. All participants in Firecracker 5K and 1 Mile will receive a finisher medal to commemorate the occasion. Competitive awards include medals for first three male and female finishers in both 5K and 1-Mile and age groups from 8U through 70+ in 5K and 6U-70+ in 1-Mile.

Firecracker 5K is the first event of a day of activities throughout Zelienople. The annual 4th of July Parade begins at 11 a.m. on Main Street. There will be family activities, entertainment, vendors and patriotic celebrations throughout the town all day. There’s also a free swim in Zelienople Park’s Pool until 4 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.

You may register for Firecracker 5K and 1-Mile online at or on race day in Zelienople Park beginning at 7 a.m. with discounts for families of 3 or 4. Organizers request parking in designated lots, not on the streets which are part of the race course.

Hampton Rotary Club Firecracker 5K has run through and around Hampton Community Park for 20 years. The event begins this Saturday at 8:30 a.m.at the park’s ALCOA Pavilion in support of various educational and charitable activities sponsored by the Hampton Rotary Club such as weekly Meals on Wheels and scholarships for Hampton High School students.

The Hampton Rotary 5K course is challenging, especially the hill leading out of the park to Hampton Middle School. In 2025, the event added a level walk-only course which starts shortly after the 5K.

This year, both courses will be slightly different due to completed park renovations. The 1-mile walk will feature the scenic and level paved trail entirely within park boundaries. Dogs and strollers are welcome.

Over the years, there have been a number of fast 5K finishes in spite of the challenging course. In 2010, Trevor Van Ackeren set the men’s course record of 16:20. Last year, local runner Ava Spagnolli set the women’s record of 19:22. The 5K awards medals for first 3 male and female finishers as well as top 3 in age groups from 8U through 60+. Finishers in both distances earn participation medals made by Hampton’s A.W. Beattie Career Center students and everyone can share post-race Pasquale’s pizza and drinks.

Online registration for Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K and 1K is open until 4 p.m. on July 3rd. Day-of-event rego opens at 6 a.m. on July 4th in Hampton Park. There should be enough commemorative T-shirts for all participants, but sizes may be limited.

Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Groundhog Festival 5K, Punxsutawney. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/GroundhogFestival5k

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.: 42nd Whiskey Rebellion 5k Run & Walk, Canonsburg. Run before 4th of July Parade. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canonsburg/WhiskeyRebellion5KRunWalk

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Firecracker 5K and 1-Mile, Zelienople. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Ellwood City Arts & Crafts Food Festival 10K and 1-Mile Run/Walk, Ellwood City. runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/EllwoodCityLedgerArtsCraftsFoodFestival10k

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk, Allison Park. Run through Hampton Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/2022HamptonRotaryClubFirecracker5K

Saturday, 9 a.m.: America 250 5K, Freeport. Run at Freeport Community Park. Festival follows from noon-6 p.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Freeport/America2505K

Saturday, 9 a.m.: McCandless B-Day 5K Run/Walk, 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and Kids’ Dash (13U), Allison Park. Held at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/McCandlessBday5K

Saturday, 9 a.m.: 35th Annual Ford City 5K and Kids’ Half-Mile, Ford City. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/AllisonPark/pcsrunwalk

July 12, 8 a.m.: Murrysville Monster 20K and 10K, Murrysville. Rugged trail race through Duff and Pleasant Valley Parks. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Murrysville/MurrysvilleMonsterTrailRaces

July 15, 7 p.m.: Dam Race 5K, Sharpsville. Race #2 of Twilight QUAD series. runhigh.com/cal/twilight_quad.html

July 17, 6:30 p.m.: America’s Mile, Pittsburgh. Run in heats at North Shore. p3r.org/races/americas-mile

July 18 & 19: Kinzua Half Marathon and 5K, Mount Jewett. www.kinzuahalf.com

July 18, 8 a.m.: 10th Annual Hot-to-Trot 5K & 1-Mile Family Fun Run, Zelienople. Also Tot Trot. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/ZelienopleHorseTradingDaysHottoTrot5k1Mile

July 19, 6:45 a.m.: Presque Isle Half Marathon, Erie. www.pihalfmarathon.com

July 24, 7 p.m.: All Saints Parish Twilight 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, Butler. runhigh.com/cal/race_details.php?id=1014

July 25, 8:30 a.m.: 25th Annual 5K Rube’s Run and Walk, Prospect. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Prospect/RUBESRUN

July 26, 8 a.m.: Run with the Deer Flies 8K, 15K and 25K Trail Runs, Penn Run. runsignup.com/Race/PA/PennRun/RunWithTheDeerFlies25K15K?_gl=1*xxqng5*_ga*MTU0NDMyNzQ0Mi4xNzYwMzk1NTQx*_ga_QKEVS8BTWC*czE3ODIxODMzMTUkbzE0JGcwJHQxNzgyMTgzMzE1JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

August 1, 9 a.m.: St. Barnabas Free Care 5K, Gibsonia. stbarnabashealthsystem.com/charities/annual-events/stbarnabas5k/ or 724-625-3770

August 1, 8:30 p.m.: Howl at the Moon 5K, Beaver. Evening run. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Beaver/HowlattheMoon5K

August 2, 9 a.m.: Moraine Regatta 5K, Portersville. Run on Sunken Gardens Trail at Moraine State Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/MoraineRegatta5k

August 4, 7 p.m.: National First Night Out 5K, Punxsutawney. Flat and fast. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/FirstNightOut5k

Butler’s Back the Blue 5K, May 17: Quinton Weaver, 1st Overall M, 17:07; Debbie Conner, 1st Overall W, 21:19; Troy Reinsel, 1st 30-39 M, 17:20; Brad Patsy, 2nd 40-49 M, 19:11; Christopher Boltz, 3rd 40-49 M, 19:49; Jacob Ponteous, 1st 14U M, 20:59; Vern Morrow, 1st 60-69 M, 21:29; Olivia Murphy, 1st 30-39 W, 21:42; Kyler Leroy, 2nd 14U M, 22:21; Andrew Wasko, 1st 21-29 M, 22:26; Aaron Williams,2nd 30-39 M, 22:33; Chelsea Custer, 2nd 30-39 W, 22:43; CJ Burger, 3rd 30-39 M, 22:51; Mark Lamison, 1st 50-59 M, 23:06; Matthew Canzoneri, 3rd 14U M, 23:20; Mandy Matus, 1st 21-29 W, 23:28; Morgan Stull, 3rd 21-29 W, 23:42; Amber Wagner, 3rd 30-39 W, 24:18; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 1st 40-49 W, 24:33; Gretta Harmon, 1st 14U W, 24:52; Madison Hunt, 3rd 21-29 W, 25:21; Erick Hortert, 3rd 50-59 M, 26:17; Lucy Stimac, 2nd 14U W, 26:57; Jennifer Hammonds, 3rd 40-49 W, 26:57; Frank Beham, 3rd 60-69 M, 27:12; Erin Hart, 2nd 50-59 W, 27:40; Kristan Casteel, 3rd 50-59 W, 28:04; Seraphina Myron, 1st 15-20 W, 28:24; Emerson Prioletti, 3rd 14U W, 28:48; Hannah Washington, 2nd 15-20 W, 30:04; Chris Stimac, 2nd 60-69 W, 31:52; Anthony Sunseri, 2nd 70-79 M, 34:31; Patricia Neubert, 1st 70-79 W, 34:53; Rachel Katsko, 3rd 15-20 W, 41:10; Arthur Boring, 22:54; Todd Hogan, 23:02; Chase Prioletti, 23:26; Aaron McAfee, 24:01; Nidal Crowley, 25:29; Tristan Blain; 25:38; Will Stimac, 26:22; Mike Stimac, 26:23; Jason Green, 26:30; Tyler Simon, 26:43; Kaitlyn Crawford, 26:48; Bruce Soule, 27:17; Nina Peters, 27:28; Russell Carr, 28:03; Jonathan Hamilton, 28:29; Jennifer Rottman, 28:35; Nick Sorg, 28:37; Jessica Hamilton, 28:45; Nicole Prioletti, 28:50; Stephanie Eagal, 28:59; Emilee Altman, 29:28; Joseph Myron, 29:42; Michele Cochran, 29:56; Crysta Heeter, 29:57; Anna Myron, 30:04; Lana Kramer, 30:41; Joey Titler, 31:23; Jessica Titler, 31:23; D.J. Kotuby, 31:29; Mandy Stinges, 31:39; Mitch Radella, 31:44; Jenn Fesler, 32:38; Robyn Fox, 33:28; Shelby Washington, 34:11; Rochelle Nestel, 34:16; Melissa Zundel, 34:16; Chad Filges, 34:23; Mark Kujala, 34:23; John Karpace, 34:32; Ashley Teuteberg, 34:47; Traci Morris-Soule, 35:32; Daniel Tarr, 38:26; Rick Orlowski, 38:31; Melissa Kimmell, 39:03; Nolan Kimmell, 39:03; John Grenci, 40:42; Jennifer McCurdy, 40:42; Pamela Carden, 41:09; Dakota Christy, 45:07; Melissa Cherry, 48:42; Heather Cherry, 48:43; Alexis Vogan, 49:23; Paula Neu, 55:35; Katricia Vouga, 55:35; Tristin Barnes, 1:03:43

Butler’s Back the Blue 2 Mile Run, May 17: Collins Kramer, 1st Overall M, 26:56; Emily Patton, 1st Overall W, 34:15; Glen Kramer, 26:57

Butler’s Back the Blue 2 Mile Walk, May 17: Rodney Daum, 1st Overall M, 23:37; Silvia Bhattacharya, 1st Overall W, 29:52; Molly McPeak, 31:42; Laura Graham, 32:33; Andy Grahan, 32:33; Lucy Dzugan, 34:05; Alivia Dzugan, 34:37; Luke Dzugan, 34:50; Logan McPeak, 35:58; Lisa Campbell, 36:02; Brian Opitz, 36:03; Kayce Opitz, 36:03; Elvira Grenci, 37:03; Kim Kenetz, 38:30; Ron Lupish, 38:47; Damon Burke, 43:26; Patience Zimmer, 43:31

Oil Creek 13-Mile, May 16: Dan McDaniel, 1st Overall M, 1:53:52; Margaret Kolesar, 1st Overall W, 2:22:31; Tracey Weaver, 1st Masters W, 2:43:11; Carrie Peluso, 3:52:17

Oil Creek 5-Mile, May 16: Dan McDaniel, 1st Overall M, 40:11; Sawyer Smith, 1st Overall W, 54:18; Carol English, 2nd 60-69 W, 1:40:23; Sherrie Mazurek, 3rd 60-69 W, 1:40:43; Zachary Boda, 1:00:30; Carrie Peluso, 1:22:29; Laura Augustine, 1:40:10; Karen Walzer, 1:40:31

Oil Creek 2-Mile Youth Race, May 16: Lincoln Anderson, 1st Overall M, 13:47; Kynleigh Gastol, 1st Overall W, 15:52; Gus Boda, 17:30

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-822-1577, email lotzak@consolidated.net