O say can you see the hundreds of runners pacing through the streets of Mattapoisett Village?

The 52nd iteration of the Mattapoisett Road Race is Thursday, July 4. The four-mile run on Independence Day will have participants race from the town wharf through village roads around Ned’s Point Lighthouse and back.

Dan White, who organizes the race’s route, said runners seem to like the four-mile route, the last mile of which is downhill. The route was five miles long in years past.

“We’re looking forward to making it happen again,” White said.

After the clockwise turn around Ned’s Point Lighthouse, runners have a mostly straight shot directly back to the finish line down Ned’s Point Road into Beacon and Water Streets to the finish line at the Mattapoisett Town Wharf.

White said the race has “a lot of dedicated people,” like one volunteer who has manned the turn at the lighthouse for 50 years. Some come to town specifically just to volunteer for the road race.

“We’ve been getting great community support,” White said.

To sign up or see more information about the race, visit runsignup.com/Race/MA/Mattapoisett/MattapoisettRoadRace.

The road race in Mattapoisett isn’t the only pavement pounding festivity on the Fourth of July in the Tri-Town; Marion is holding its annual Independence Day parade.

By the dawn’s early light (9 a.m.), the procession loops around Main, Spring and Front Streets in Marion Center. Parade awards will be presented afterwards. 

This year’s parade will feature a float of Marion veterans. Sailors from the USS Massachusetts also plan to join the patriotic festivities, according to Marion executive assistant Donna Hemphill. 

“It’s the perfect small town way to celebrate Independence Day,” Hemphill said.

A regional Jeep group may supply up to the 12 vehicles in the parade, and there will also be antique vehicles and tractors, she said.

The 2024 procession will also have a sensory-friendly area from the corner of Front and Main Street to School and Main Street, according to Hemphill.

Through that portion of the route, fire department vehicles participating in the parade won’t honk or use their sirens, Hemphill said.  

Applications to participate in the parade can be submitted through June 30 on marionma.gov/509/Fourth-of-July-Parade-Committee. Paper applications are also available at the Marion Town House.