FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Maisie Keith Daly
Coordinator of Events and Volunteers, Canterbury Shaker Village
603-783-9077 ext.284 mkdaly@shakers.org

RUNNERS RACE TO NEW BEAT
5k Cross Country Challenge brings together athletes and musicians

Canterbury, NH - Canterbury Shaker Village opens its 2008 season with the Grappone Automotive’s Canterbury Cross Country Challenge 5K Race, Saturday, May 10th at 10 AM. This rain or shine running/walking event will be a true cross country race, covering the grounds of the Village, and using established trails as well as fields and road.

The event will also feature something road races generally cannot: live music across the course. Musicians include accordion and bag pipe players, and bluegrass musical group High Range will be playing on the Village grounds at the event.

The Canterbury Cross Country Challenge is new to Canterbury Shaker Village this year, though Grappone’s Automotive has sponsored the race elsewhere. Event Chair and Sponsor Amanda Grappone Osmer had the idea of bringing the race to the Shaker Village. A Canterbury resident, Grappone Osmer said, “I feel so fortunate to have such a special place to raise a family. The Shaker Village is an important part of our lives and I am interested as an individual in how I can give back to it.” Grappone Osmer was inspired by the Village grounds to create the cross country course, to which she gave the moniker, “Totally unpaved…totally beautiful.” Grappone Osmer also had the idea to bring live music to the race. “I am also very interested in helping to reconnect Canterbury's many and extremely talented artists, musicians, and craftspeople with the Village. The outpouring of donations and interest has been fabulous.”

Also new at Canterbury Shaker Village for opening day and the season: the new exhibit, “By Shaker Hands: Furniture and Design of an American Religious Sect”, in the Carriage House; new Museum Store location in the Visitors Center, new light fare eatery, The Shaker Box Lunch.

The Shaker Table Restaurant will be open for lunch 11:30- 4:00 and dinner 5:00-9:00. New at The Shaker Table this year, the Shaker Family Lunch, with two seatings daily at 12:00 and 2:30.

For more information, visit theshakertable.com

The Canterbury Cross Country Challenge gun will fire at 10:00, with registration beginning at 8:30 AM. Pre-registration for the event is $15 and available at ford.grappone.com. Day of Event Registration is $20. Proceeds will benefit Canterbury Shaker Village. Following the race, a brunch will be available to runners.

Founded in 1969 to preserve the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers, Canterbury Shaker Village is an internationally-known, non-profit museum and National Historic Landmark with 25 original Shaker buildings, three reconstructed Shaker buildings and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens, nature trails and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. The Village is located 20 minutes north of Concord, NH, and 25 minutes south of Meredith, NH. Take I-93 to Exit 18 or Route 106 to Shaker Road.