Runners are pictured during the 2023 Firecracker Run. The run is held every Fourth of July starting from Richard O. Hartley Park in Lakewood. P-J file photo by Matt Spielman

LAKEWOOD – Village Board of Trustees Monday heard a presentation about the 2024 Firecracker Run.

The July 4 event, hosted by the Lakewood Family YMCA, begins at 9 a.m. at the Lakewood Beach, located at the Richard O. Hartley Park.

“I wanted to thank the village of course for how essential your willingness to allow us to host it last year,” Interim YMCA CEO John Barber told the board.

Barber said more than 500 runners attended the event in 2023.

“It is amazing when you’re there to see how many people from states all over the nation (and) coming here on vacation, and many of them are running this race. And so it becomes part of a July 4 experience for a lot of people that are traveling and people that are from the region,” Barber said. The YMCA official said there is a 10K run, a 2 Mile run, and a 2 Mile walk. The check-in time is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Runners can register online at runsignup.com/Race/NY/Lakewood/LakewoodYFirecracker10K2MileRun or register by mail at Lakewood YMCA, 183 E. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, N.Y., 14750.

“And certainly it’s the cooperation of the village in the town that helps make it all go off so safely and so well. And so we’re looking to run a very similar event with a similar course,” Barber added.

There will be an awards ceremony at the gazebo following the race. Prizes will be awarded to the first three overall male and female finishers for the 10K and the 2 Mile run. There will be age group awards for the top three finishers in each division for 10K and the 2 Mile run, Barber noted.

The age divisions include 14 and under; 15-19; 20-25; 26-30; 31-35; 36-40; 41-45; 46-50; 51-55; 56-60; 61-65; and 66 and over.

There will be a kids run at 9:30 a.m. for ages 2 to 12.

For more information call (716) 664-2802.