Hello all and thank you for choosing to participate in the 2025 Bill Markel Memorial 5k!

For those of you who don’t know, Bill is an East Brady native. Born on November 15th 1960, he grew up along the Allegheny River. In October of 1985 he married his wife, Sheila, and they raised their two boys, Danny and David, on Seybertown Road. He was more than just a member of our amazing community, he was one of the happiest faces you could run into when buzzing around town–always happy, cheerful and optimistic. Unfortunately, Bill unexpectedly passed on Friday, November 22, 2024, after a game of pickleball, which was one of his favorite pastimes. Aside from his love and obsession with all things pickleball, he was a basketball enthusiast, water skier, wakeboarder, and bare-footer. His love for this stretch of the Allegheny truly showed in everything he did.

In honor of Bill, the East Brady Riverfest is hosting this 5k in his memory. We hope that whether you are a runner, jogger, or walker that you smile and take in the beauty that Bill loved so much as you travel this stretch of Seybertown. We thank you for choosing to remember Bill in this way, and support the East Brady Riverfest. We hope that after today, you will come back to celebrate Bill and the East Brady Riverfest with us for years to come.

EMS SERVICES WILL BE ON SITE DURING THE EVENT IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Water will be handed out at the ½ way point to all participants who wish to take it, we kindly ask that you be mindful of the community along the course and only dispose of trash in a designated receptacle either at the ½ way mark or at the finish to keep our neighborhood clean!

Although the route to the course will be closed to thru traffic, we cannot ensure a vehicle will not need to get through in the event of an emergency. We kindly ask that all participants be mindful of their surroundings and that walkers please stay to the side of the road.

The Vintage Cafe food truck will be serving breakfast foods from 8-10 am during the event. See the attached menu below!

Chinese auction baskets donated by local community members will be available at the event with tickets to purchase. All proceeds benefit East Brady RiverFest.

We encourage everyone to head over to Main Street following the event to enjoy music, food, lots of vendors with crafts and items for purchase, activities for children, and awards @ 5:15 pm.

Benefits East Brady RiverFest Committee

Registration after June 10th, 2025, DOES NOT guarantee a shirt on race day

Available shirts for registrants after 6/10/2025 are first come first serve to those of available and must be paid in CASH.

Packets will be available for pick up the day of the event beginning at 7:45 at the Registration tent with the event promptly starting at 9am.

Public Parking is available in town or at the boat launch, please park in grass areas if parking at the launch, locals are encouraged to walk to minimize traffic.

Runners High will be timing the event; results will be available at the registration tent immediately following the race. Awards will be presented at 5:15pm Saturday July 19th at the stage located next to all stars @ 411 Kellys Way East Brady, Pa 16028

Pets are welcome but MUST BE ON A LEASH, any pets that are not leashed will be asked to be removed from the event for safety. Strollers and wheelchairs are always welcome.

Pets not on a leash, bicycles, skateboards, or rollerblades of any kind.

For event related questions, please click on the Contact the Organizers button on the page.