The Gene Groves Memorial Firecracker 2-miler
About this race
Ripley, WV is the home of America’s Largest Small-Town 4th of July Celebration. For 28 years, the Main Street Firecracker race has been a part of this celebration kicking off immediately before the Grand Parade.
This year we have rebranded to the Gene Groves Memorial Firecracker 2-miler, to celebrate the life of the race’s founder and main supporter. For 25 years, Gene and his family have celebrated the runners in our community, volunteering hours and resources to make this fast, mostly flat 2-mile course along the city streets a centerpiece of our patriotic celebrations.
Overall male and female runners will receive trophies and a $100 cash prize. Top three finishers in each age bracket will receive medals. There will be special recognitions for the oldest and youngest runners, most patriotic, best dressed, and farthest travelled.
Pick your distance
Running
The Gene Groves Memorial Firecracker 2 Miler
Typical race-day weather
Based on 4 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Ripley, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:07 AM and sets at 8:55 PM local time (EDT) in Ripley on July 4, 2026 — 14h 48m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
Done this event?
If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners
Results — The Gene Groves Memorial Firecracker 2-miler
Other races near Ripley
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Elf Off the Shelf Fun Run
Freakeee 5K Run/Walk
Tricks, Treats, and Meeks Mountain Trails
Itty Bitty Kitty 2 Miler
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Ripley
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Ripley 5K Races 5 races
- Ripley Running Calendar 2026 8 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 8 Ripley events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.