BOSTON- As the fall days grow shorter and the temperatures become milder, everyone knows the time is getting closer for Boston’s Half Marathon and Festival. Always held the last weekend in October, this year’s event will be Oct. 25-26 with activities focused in the downtown area.

The signature event remains the run/walk event on Saturday morning. In addition to the popular half marathon, run and the 5K run and walk, a kickoff party will be held Friday evening in Watt Park at 6 p.m. for runners to pick up their packets and enjoy interacting with locals.

“We will have the TU Jazz Band with Debbie on vocals,” said Visit Boston, Georgia Tourism Committee Co-Chair Logan Smith. “The runners who have already pre-registered online can pick up their packets at that time as well.”

Saturday morning is when the race activities will kick off.

Runners can begin checking in at 6:30 a.m., while vendors can check in, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Runners can also register on the day of the event until registration closes at 7:30 a.m.

At 8 a.m., race and walk participants will line up as runners from across the south will partake in a sanctioned course covering the pastoral countryside.

The tantalizing aromas of barbecue, fried fish, funnel cakes, and other festival fare will fill the air as the food court opens at 9 a.m. In addition to the food court, local restaurants will be open to serve their specialties.

Arts and crafts vendors, offering a wide selection of homemade, handcrafted, and organic items will be set up along the streets. Downtown shops and boutiques will also be open and encourage shoppers to come and browse all the goodies.

At 10:30 a.m., the Halloween costume contest presented by the Boston Merchants will be held. Appealing to children of all ages, contestants can line up to be viewed by the audience and judged in their costumes.

Following the costume contest, the awards ceremony for the race will be held at 11 p.m.

All attendees can then watch along Main Street as a parade, featuring more than 40 entries will make its way downtown. Thomas County Central head coach Justin Rogers will be the Grand Marshall of this year’s parade, which has multiple bands and teams from across Thomasville and Thomas County.

Parade entrants and guests alike will then gather in Watt Park for the Red Hills Band presented by the Boston Arts & Entertainment Society.

Guests can then take a short nap, before returning at 6:30 p.m. for a fun Trunk or Treat on Main Street, where trunks will be judged in a fun-spirited competition.

Those interested in participating can reach out to Chief Charles Pettus with Boston PD or Boston City Hall Councilman Jackson.

Pettus is excited to continue the longstanding tradition of the half marathon and looks forward to bringing people into the Boston community.

“We hope to have a successful event and would like to grow this event with the community club and work with them,” he said. “It’s going to be an action-packed couple of days.”

For more information on any of the events, visit bostonga.com