By Joe Stewart

The annual “Wrentham Wroad Wrace,” a tradition since 1982, will once again take center stage at this year’s Wrentham Day on Saturday, September 6. The 5K race, sanctioned by USA Track and Field, begins at 9 a.m. at the Common, launching a day packed with family-friendly activities, food, and entertainment.  

A Race with a Storied Past

The Wrentham Wroad Wrace traces its roots to September 18, 1982, when it debuted as a 10K race from the Town Common down South Street to Wampum Corner then looping back via Taunton Street. In its early years, the race attracted elite runners with prize money up to $500 for the first-place finisher.  Among its most famous participants was Geoff Smith, a British marathon legend who won the Boston Marathon in 1984 and 1985 and who set the course record in Wrentham. Smith, a former Providence College All-American, later settled in Massachusetts as a teacher.  

Sponsors like Charles River Sports, Town Pizza, Eagle Brook, and the old Tom’s Tavern helped sustain the event, while volunteers—from Wrentham Boy Scouts to the KP High School cross country team to the girls volleyball team—kept it running smoothly. After a brief hiatus in 2004, the race returned in 2005 as a 5K, maintaining its place as a cornerstone of Wrentham Day.  

From Humble Beginnings to a Full-Fledged Festival

What started as a road race soon grew into a community-wide celebration. Recognizing the crowds the race drew, organizers expanded Wrentham Day to include activities for all ages. Over the years, highlights have included:  

• A 100-foot banana split served by the Wrentham Jaycees  

• The Lions Club’s Eye Mobile offering vision screenings  

• Touch-a-Truck, featuring DPW equipment, police cruisers, and fire trucks  

• Appearances by Wally the Green Monster and Patriots cheerleaders  

• Face painting, magic shows, and wagon rides around the Common  

Today, 60-75 vendors line the Common, offering everything from burgers by Wrentham Youth Baseball to popcorn and cotton candy. Nearly every town department and civic group participates, including the Senior Center, Board of Health, and local political leaders.  

This Year’s Festivities and How to Join  

The 2025 Wrentham Day promises another fun-filled lineup:  

• Wrentham Wroad Wrace (https://runsignup.com/wrenthamwroadwrace)

• Pickleball tournament at the newly renovated Sweatt Park, with divisions for all ages and skill levels (https://wrenthamma.myrec.com/)  

• Live music, food trucks, and community booths (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)  

Bill Rice: A Wrentham Pillar

No conversation about Wrentham Day is complete without mentioning Bill Rice, whose decades of dedication helped shape the town’s recreation programs and traditions. A Wrentham native, Rice often jokes, “I may sleep in Plainville, but my home is Wrentham.” Born and raised in Wrentham, his service to Wrentham reaches back to 1967, when he began as a lifeguard for the Sweatt Summer Swim Program, which he later directed for years.

Rice’s career was a testament to his commitment to education and athletics. After teaching social studies and special education at King Philip Junior High, he pioneered the district’s alternative education program before serving as assistant principal (1980–1999), athletic director, and later the King Philip Middle School principal. Yet even while working in schools, he never stepped away from recreation, serving as part-time Recreation Director from 1980 until 2004.

Among his proudest achievements was securing the land for what’s now the Rice Recreation Complex—a project born out of necessity when King Philip High needed more athletic fields in 1981. Rice spearheaded the effort to lease part of a hayfield from the Wrentham State School (now the Wrentham Developmental Center), transforming it into a hub for sports and community events.

Rice’s impact extended far beyond constructing athletic fields—he fostered lasting relationships within the community. His former student and successor as Recreation Director, Jeff Plympton, notes that Rice recognized how events like the Wrentham Wroad Wrace served a greater purpose than mere competition, creating opportunities to unite the town’s residents.

Now, as runners line up for another Wrentham Wroad Wrace, Rice’s legacy lives on—not just in the course records or the park that bears his name, but in the spirit of a small New England town that still comes together, year after year, to celebrate its community.

Vendor registration is still open at Wrentham Recreation, https://wrenthamma.myrec.com/). With 2,000–2,500 attendees expected, this year’s Wrentham Day is set to be another unforgettable celebration of community spirit.