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Organizers report record turnout for Susquehanna River Running Festival; local businesses saw benefits
Summary
Organizers told the council the Sept. 21 Susquehanna River Running Festival drew 1,865 registered runners (highest to date) with increased Havre de Grace participation and positive survey responses (25% dined/shopped locally; 20% stayed locally). Organizers praised police coordination and flagged signage/traffic improvements for next year.
Havre de Grace, Md. — Will Murdoch, event director for the Susquehanna River Running Festival, briefed the City Council on Oct. 7 about a record turnout for the Sept. 21 race and the event’s local economic effects.
Murdoch said the festival — which staged a half marathon, 10K and 5K on the same day as the wine-and-seafood festival — registered 1,865 participants and reported the most finishers to date. He told council there was a 20% increase in participation by Havre de Grace residents and that survey data indicated 25% of respondents dined or shopped in Havre de Grace before or after the race, while 20% stayed overnight locally.
Murdoch credited close coordination with the city’s police department and marina staff to smooth access to the marina and noted a miscommunication with a traffic-control vendor that required additional policing at certain intersections; he said the plan worked effectively overall. He proposed clearer no-parking signage (e.g., specifying narrow time windows) to reduce business impacts from signs posted several days in advance.
Council members thanked Murdoch and his team for focusing on inclusivity (a new non-binary category) and for outreach to local businesses (a travel guide and special discounts for Havre de Grace residents). Council asked for further demographic and ZIP-code breakdowns; Murdoch said he could provide more detailed post-event data.
The council expressed appreciation for the event’s positive community and economic effects and asked organizers to return any additional metrics for future marketing and planning.
