Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival

The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival on April 25 and 26 offers multiple race distances across two days, from a 5K fun run to a full marathon, all winding through Jim Thorpe’s Victorian streets and the surrounding Lehigh Gorge State Park trails. Saturday features shorter distances including a kids’ dash, 5K, and 10K, with races starting between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., while Sunday’s half marathon and marathon begin at 8 a.m. to beat the afternoon warmth. Registration fees range from $20 for the kids’ race to $100 for the marathon, with packet pickup available Friday evening in downtown Jim Thorpe. The races start and finish on Broadway, the town’s main commercial street, with parking available in municipal lots near the train station and along side streets, though spaces fill by 8 a.m. on race mornings.

Jim Thorpe, originally named Mauch Chunk (Lenape for “Bear Mountain”), was founded in 1818 as a shipping point for anthracite coal transported down from Summit Hill via the Switchback Gravity Railroad, an engineering marvel that became America’s first roller coaster. The town’s Victorian architecture dates largely from the 1860s through 1880s when coal wealth built mansions, churches, and commercial blocks along the steep hillsides flanking the Lehigh River. In 1954, the town changed its name to Jim Thorpe to honor the Olympic athlete after his widow agreed to inter his remains here in exchange for a memorial and tourism boost. The marathon course showcases this history, climbing Broadway’s steep grade past 19th-century storefronts before following the Lehigh Gorge Trail along the river through forested valleys and rocky outcrops. April weather in the Lehigh Gorge is mild, typically in the 50s and 60s, ideal for running, though morning temperatures can dip to the 40s, making layers essential for pre-race warmups.

The festival attracts serious marathoners training for Boston qualifiers, casual runners enjoying the scenery, and families participating in the shorter weekend races. Recent editions have drawn 1,500 to 2,000 runners across all distances, with the marathon and half marathon selling out weeks in advance. The courses are challenging, with the marathon featuring 3,000 feet of elevation gain across rolling hills and forested trails. Post-race festivities on Broadway include a beer garden, food vendors, live music, and awards ceremonies running through early afternoon. Spectators can position themselves at multiple points along Broadway or walk to the river trail for mid-race cheering. The event is dog-friendly for spectators (but not runners), and Jim Thorpe’s compact downtown makes it easy to move between race viewing spots and cafes for warm-up breaks.

Make the running festival part of a Lehigh Gorge weekend by booking a rental on Lake.com in Jim Thorpe or nearby Nesquehoning, where you’ll find Victorian homes and river-view properties without guest fees. After the race, celebrate at Moya (established 2008) on Race Street for Irish pub fare and craft beer, or head to Molly Maguire’s Pub & Steakhouse (1983) for hearty American food in a historic building. The festival pairs naturally with a Sunday afternoon rail trail bike ride on the Lehigh Gorge Trail or a visit to Asa Packer Mansion, built in 1861 by the railroad magnate who founded Lehigh University, making it a centerpiece for runners and spectators seeking spring scenery, small-town charm, and Pennsylvania history in a single trip.