Today marks the return of the popular annual Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K race in Pottsville. It, like many events, took a year off in 2020.
But it’s back and on Saturday, a new event that downtown Pottsville advocates are hoping becomes a mainstay gets going right after runners cross the finish line.
Because, for some reason in a town that is well-known for its beer and beer-drinking ability, we didn’t have an Oktoberfest.
That changes today.
9th Yuengling Light Lager Jogger is Saturday Morning in Pottsville
This will be the 9th installment of the Light Lager Jogger event in Pottsville.
It starts early Saturday. Organizers say there will be an “open start” this year to allow runners to socially distance themselves. And they recommend that elite runners start promptly at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Race start time goes from 8:30 until 9:30.
A post-race Block Party will be taking place in the vicinity of the Yuengling Brewery along Mahantongo St. Numerous vendors will be set up in the area.
The Block Party runs until 12:30 p.m. and last call for Lager Jogger beer is at 12:15 p.m.
Pottsville has set up some traffic restrictions to accommodate the Light Lager Jogger:
No parking in the vendor staging area of Mahantongo St. (between 2nd St. and 7th St.) until post-race activities are finished. This area will be closed to vehicle traffic.
No vehicle traffic on 5th St., between Mahantongo and Norwegian Sts. beginning at 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
Parking and travel restrictions along race route begin at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. No vehicle traffic will be allowed on the course while runners are participating. Here’s the race route:
- Start at 4th & Mahantongo St.
- West on Mahantongo St., from 7th to 19th St.
- North on 19th St., from Mahantongo St. to Norwegian St.
- West on Norwegian St., from 19th to 22nd St.
- South on 22nd St., from Norwegian St. to Mahantongo St.
- East on Mahantongo St., from 22nd St. to 20th St.
- South on 20th St., from Mahantongo St. to Howard Ave.
- East on Howard Ave., from 20th St. to 12th St.
- North on 12th St. from Howard Ave. to Mahantongo St.
- East on Mahantongo St., from 10th St. to Finish Line at 4th St.
Pottsville Ready for First-ever Oktoberfest
After the Light Lager Jogger wraps up, focus shifts to another area of downtown Pottsville for the first-ever Oktoberfest, organized by Pottsville Business Association.
There’ll be 15 food and beverage vendors along with other exhibitions. Oktoberfest is scheduled to run from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday.
The German band Doppelgänger will be performing from 1 until 5:30 at the event. Organizers say it’ll be a celebration of German heritage and not just another beer party but yeah … there’ll be beer.
Oktoberfest is happening on N. Centre St. in downtown Pottsville.
Vehicle traffic and parking will be prohibited downtown on Centre from W. Market St. to Laurel Blvd. starting at 7 a.m. Saturday.
*For the Octoberfest Event, Centre Street between W. Market Street and Laurel Boulevard will be closed to all parking and motor vehicle travel beginning at 0700hrs Saturday 10/09/21 until the completion of the event.
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