Foodies and runners will enjoy the first official weekend of spring on Main Street as the Downtown Newark Partnership hosts the 2^nd annual Five and Wine 5-Mile Run/Walk and 14^th annual Wine & Dine on Saturday, March 24. Runners and walkers will cross the starting line at 9 a.m., and more than a dozen restaurants will feature special food and wine pairings from 12 - 5 p.m.

"This is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to spend the entire day enjoying our award winning Main Street," said Community Affairs Officer Megan McGuriman. "Downtown Newark isn't just a destination for restaurants, but also for shopping, fitness, and enjoying time with friends."

The Five and Wine starts at the corner of Main and Academy Streets. During the race, the left lane of E. Main Street will be closed to traffic from the Pomeroy Trail to S. Main Street. The left lane of W. Delaware Avenue will be closed from S. Main Street to Orchard Road. Runners will cross the finish line on Academy Street, near Aetna Hose Hook & Ladder Company. The event then concludes with two after parties; one at Stone Balloon Ale House and the second at Klondike Kate's Restaurant & Saloon.

Wine and Dine showcases dozens of wines paired with creative food offerings from 14 downtown Newark restaurants. The first 2,500 participants will receive a complimentary stemless wine tasting glass. The glasses will be available in the participating restaurants and at the Academy Lawn. This is a pay-as-you-go event that takes place in the restaurants. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age with proper I.D. to participate in wine tastings. All City of Newark municipal parking meters and lots will be free during the events.

In addition to good food and drinks, strolling acoustic musicians will be performing along Main Street during Wine and Dine. The music line-up is as follows:  

As a bonus to the events, the Downtown Newark Partnership is raffling off two sets of VIP tickets to the Firefly Music Festival. Raffle tickets are $50 each and available for purchase online at https://www.paypal.me/CityofNewark/50, or in-person with check or cash at the City of Newark Municipal Building. Tickets will also be sold at the Academy Lawn during Wine & Dine. The winners will be announced at 4 p.m. during Wine & Dine.The 2^nd annual Five and Wine 5-mile Run/Walk and 14^th annual Wine and Dine are made possible through the support of generous sponsors: Fusion Racing, DEMEC, Newark Toyota World, UDStudentRentals.com, JMT and Del-One Federal Credit Union. To register to participate in the Five & Wine click here. For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, please visit enjoydowntownnewark.com/winedine.