PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Thousands of participants will take their mark at the starting line for the Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday, but the city is celebrating the annual event all weekend long.

The race starts downtown at 6th Street and Liberty Avenue and finishes on the North Shore. For runners, the starting gun will sound Sunday morning at 7 a.m.

For more information on the course and closures, check out these links: Course Maps | Road Closures | Parking Info | Start & Finish Line Info | Bus Detours

But before the race, there are a number of events going on around town to get everyone in the spirit of the race!

At a press conference this morning, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and race director Patrice Matamoros introduced the elite athletes who will be running the course.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held to open the annual Health and Fitness Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The expo is being held both today and Saturday. It serves not only as a place where runners and spectators can get information, products, services and even some entertainment, but it’s also where race participants can pick up their race packets.

Then, tonight, race organizers have put together a Marathon Weekend Kick-Off Concert at Stage AE on the North Shore.

There are also pre-race pasta dinners planned at several local locations including Stage AE, Monterey Bay and Fish Grotto, Blue Water Tavern and The Spaghetti Warehouse.

On Saturday morning, the Kids Marathon will start at 10 a.m. on Art Rooney Avenue.

During the race, many local communities will be hosting neighborhood festivals where Pittsburghers can cheer on the runners.

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