THOUSANDS of people will descend on Bolton for three days of sports and entertainment.

The Bolton News:

RACES:

Night Run

Bolton’s first Night Run (on Friday) marks the start of a super three days of sport.

The 5k fun run starts at 7pm and up to 1,000 men and women, aged 16 plus, will run around the town centre on closed roads.

The course starts on Le Mans Crescent, heading through the town centre, and into Queens Park. Runners will then come back to town, finishing in Victoria Square on the same finish line as Ironman UK athletes.

The run will have a festival atmosphere with live music and a bar for runners at the end. If you’ve not signed up already then there’s still time – go online (www.ironmanuk.com) or just turn up on the day (registration closes at 6pm).

The Bolton News:

Ironkids

The world’s largest Ironkids event starts at 9am on Saturday (July 13).

Bolton will see 3,000 budding stars of the future, aged three to 14, compete in the race in and around the town centre.

The sell-out event, being held in Bolton for the 8th time, is incredibly popular with children from across the country taking part.

The Bolton News:

Ironman UK

Bolton welcomes Ironman UK for the 11th time in its 15-year history. And 1,900 athletes aged 17 to 70 will be part of the action.

READ MORE: Ironman road closures and routes - everything you need to know

The Ironman UK triathlon gets underway at 6am, on Sunday, with a 2.4-mile swim at Pennington Flash, before athletes complete a 112-mile bike ride.

For the first time in the history of Ironman, athletes will cycle into Bolton town centre. The new bike course will see athletes cycling along Chorley New Road, passing Queens Park, coming into Bolton town centre, on to Le Mans Crescent before heading to Bury via Folds Road and Tonge Moor Road.

The marathon route will take place in and around Bolton town centre and Queens Park, with the finale on Victoria Square, finishing against the backdrop of Bolton town hall.

The Bolton News:

ENTERTAINMENT:

A packed programme of entertainment has been laid on for the weekend.

New this year is the Festival Zone on Oxford Street ­— open 6pm to 11pm on Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday, and 10am until 9pm on Sunday.

The zone features a live music stage, a bar, food traders and seating, and is open to everyone, not just competitors.

On Saturday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm and Sunday, from 10am to 7pm, go to Deansgate and have a go at free arts and crafts, giant garden games, wrestling, a climbing wall, a running track, and e-sports. Join in a Community Leisure Trust fitness challenge on Saturday.

On Sunday, from 11am to 7pm, in Queens Park, Spa Road, bands and solo artists will be performing on a music stage near the café. Fairground rides and food will also be available.

The Bolton News:

SPECTATOR ADVICE

You can view the race at the following points on the bike course: Rivington Green Rivington, bottom of Sheephouse Lane, and Black Dog pub in Belmont. To watch both cyclists and runners Queens Park is a key spot. Also head down to Chorley New Road, or Le Mans Crescent. Saturday and Sunday’s events have been designated “smokefree”.

TRAVEL AND PARKING

Park for free on Saturday and Sunday at Bolton NCP multi-storey car parks: Topp Way, Octagon and Deane Road.

To facilitate all the events, roads will be closed in the town centre, and a number of roads will be closed in and around Bolton, Blackburn and Bury on Ironman UK day.

Marshalls will be present to allow access for emergency services, residents, and businesses. Shoppers are advised that Middlebrook Retail Park will be open as usual 11am to 5pm.

For more information visit : https://www.visitbolton.com/downloads/file/16/ironman-uk-bolton-spectator-guide-2019