Saturday, May 21—BARNARD—While serious runners will find interest and challenge in the 5K and 10K Race Around the Lake in Barnard on Saturday, many also come out for friendly exercise or just to celebrate the beautiful spring in Barnard.
The fundraiser is the primary supporter of BarnArts Summer Youth Theater, celebrating its 12th anniversary year in 2023. This year’s SYT musical will be “Newsies!” produced in Barnard, Aug 4-6.
Registration fees for the 5K are $40 for adults and $30 for youth 12 and under, while fees for the 10K are $50 for adults and $30 for youth 12 and under. Walkers and families are welcome on the 5K, while the 10K is for runners only. This year the Upper Valley Running Club included the 10K in its running series, and around 150 runners are expected just on the 10K course!
Registration is available online through 7 p.m. on Saturday at runsignup.com. Day-of registration begins Sunday at 9 a.m. at the park (cash & check only). The 10K starts at 10:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 11 a.m. Both races will be RFID chip timed. A virtual race option is also available through May 22.
The Race Around the Lake is an important fundraiser for BarnArts but it is also important for the community.
“BarnArts is all about community and this race is a great example of that,” said Executive Director Linda Treash. As well as choosing to participate in the race, “local families and individuals come out to volunteer or to just watch and cheer people on while enjoying nature.”
Beginning and ending at Silver Lake State Park, the 5K and 10K courses circle Silver Lake on town roads and single-track trails with intermittent views of the lake. The 10K is famously tough, as it exits the woods and climbs steep Tower Road before returning to the park and the lake.
Again this year with the registration fee comes a complimentary lunch and an awards ceremony along Silver Lake in Barnard. This year’s lunch will include beef chili, hearty vegetarian salads, fresh fruit, bread & cheese and chocolate milk. Items are being donated by Twin Farms, Red Hen Bakery, Plymouth Cheese, Heartwood Farm, Strafford Creamery, and BarnArts.
Live music will be provided by Justin Park and Chloe Powell. An award ceremony will begin a bit after noon. Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female overall finishers, as well as the top male/female runners in specific age categories. Prizes have been donated by Wood’s Syrup, Elevation, Farmhouse Pottery, Harpoon, Fable Farm, Cayer’s Honey, Anichini, Woodstock Farmers’ Market, Barnard General Store, Crystal Garden Herbs, and Silver Lake Syrup.
BarnArts Race Around the Lake raises funds exclusively for BarnArts youth programming, including scholarships for BarnArts Summer Youth Theater which will this year produce “Newsies” in August. As part of its global music residency program, BarnArts brought Mi’kmaq fiddler Morgan Toney to 6 area schools for unique workshops and a lively public concert in Woodstock last week. They are bringing The Villalobos Brothers to local schools next week and will have a public performance outdoors at Barnard Town Hall on Saturday, May 26th at 5:30 p.m. Tickets available with a sliding-scale price $10-50 at barnarts.org.
For more info on the race, BarnArts youth programming, or if you would like to volunteer for the race, please visit barnarts.org or call 802-234-1645.
