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Organizer, city discuss moving St. Patrick’s Day Run to north end to reduce closures
Summary
Washington County Parks and Recreation and Hub City Brewery proposed relocating the St. Patrick’s Day Run to the north end of town to reduce street closures and concentrate post‑race festival activity near Hub City Brewery; city will fund entertainment for a post‑race festival to encourage downtown spillover.
City staff and event organizers told the Hagerstown City Council on Feb. 4 they plan to shift this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Run from the downtown core to the north end of town to reduce street closures and centralize festival logistics at Hub City Brewery.
A city presenter said Washington County Parks and Recreation is the race organizer and is partnering with the Community Free Clinic; the move north would require fewer street closures and provides room for registration, vendor space and indoor shelter at the brewery. The city plans to pay for a band to create a festival atmosphere after the race; race organizers expect the run to end about 11 a.m. with the band playing roughly 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Staff said the goal is to keep race participants downtown after the event by coordinating with downtown businesses and scheduling additional entertainment. Council members noted prior problems with participants leaving immediately after racing and said the new format is intended to extend patronage at downtown restaurants and shops.
No formal vote was taken; staff will continue coordinating road‑closure details, vendor logistics and downtown promotional efforts between the race organizer, Hub City Brewery and the city.
