Weymouth Officials Urge Residents To Get Outside For ‘Walktober’

Weymouth officials are urging residents to stay healthy this Fall by participating in a wide range of October activities.

Valerie Sullivan, the town’s Healthy Wey/Mass in Motion Coordinator said “Weymouth Walktober” was created this year to get people outside and walking and staying healthy during the October season.

Across the Nation, Walktober is a month-long campaign designed to inspire everyone to make walking a priority.

Sullivan said October is the perfect time to get outside because of the nice weather, colorful foliage and crisp clear air.

“Walktober” will feature a Senior Walk, a Hunger Walk, a tough 5K road race and the annual Pumpkin-Give-a-Wey and more.

Sullivan said the town is encouraging its residents to get outside because Weymouth is part of the state’s Mass in Motion program.

Weymouth received a grant from the Department of Public Health to educate residents on healthy eating and healthy activities. 

The following activities have been organized by several local organizations (including many Healthy Wey Partners):

October 2013: International Walk to School Month & Oct 9th is Walk to School Day

Families all over the world will be observing International Walk to School Month throughout October and interested Weymouth families are encouraged to participate, weather permitting! Check your school’s website for more information (like walking maps with safe routes to school).

October 5th: 6th Annual Great Pumpkin Give-A-Wey

The community event includes a pie eating contest, a chili contest between Weymouth’s finest restaurants, and a DJ. Children will enjoy horse-drawn hayrides, pony rides and the aquatic sea creatures from the NE Traveling Aquarium. They can also take a ride on the roaming railroad with their family and eat at the Food Court and shop for produce, baked goods and crafts at the Weymouth Farmers Market, which will be located on Libby Field for the day. Come visit our Healthy Wey partners, Shaw’s, WIC, Manet Community Health and many more, from 12–4 p.m.!

October 12th: Over the Esker 5k

The event is like an urban trail race and is a very challenging run along the road over North America’s tallest esker. This race is held entirely within Great Esker Park in North Weymouth and proceeds from this event benefit the continued care and improvement of Great Esker Park. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 10 a.m. Visit the website for details: www.Overtheesker5K.com

October 14th: 18th Annual ‘Stock-Our-Shelves Walk’ to benefit the Weymouth Food Pantry. Please walk with the Weymouth Food Pantry on this easy and fun two-mile walk and help raise funds to keep the pantry in operation. Snacks and raffle prizes will be given away. Walk begins at 10 a.m. at Monsignor Hackett Parish Center, 1199 Commercial St, Weymouth MA (behind the Immaculate Conception Church). Visit: weymouthfoodpantry.org/soswalk

October 16th: Weymouth Elder Services and Braintree Council on Aging present the 6th Annual Senior Walk for Fitness from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Pond Meadow Park (rain date: October 22nd). Check-in is at 9am and the walk will kick-off at 10 a.m. after brief welcomes from Mayor Kay and Mayor Sullivan. Last year’s walk was a huge success!

October 21st – 26th: Story Walk at Kid’s Landing

Come walk through the pages of Marjorie Flack’s Ask Mr. Bear story with your kids and watch the story come alive. The Weymouth Public Library is sponsoring this free, fun, week-long event at Weston Park, 46 Broad Street Weymouth, MA (behind Tufts Library).