An event that’s been going on for five years continues this weekend.

The sixth annual Market-to-Market Relay Iowa is happening Saturday. The race starts in downtown Jefferson and ends in downtown Des Moines. The route is on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Jefferson Mayor Craig Berry anticipates this year as being the biggest year yet for participants.

“There’s approximately 3,000 people that are coming into town at different times from the race on Saturday morning. I believe they are going to start at 6(am) is when the first wave takes off. So Lincoln Way from the courthouse down to the (Milwaukee) Depot, the side streets will be closed. There will be barricades up so you can’t come across Lincoln Way until about 10 o’clock in the morning.”

Teams of up to eight people can participate. People come from across the state and even from other states as well. There are 18 checkpoints along the route where runners will hand off their baton to the next person in each of the legs of the race. Prizes are awarded for the winners in each age division, as well as best team costumes, best team name and best decorated team vehicle.

Berry adds that motorists need to be aware of runners being on the trail Saturday morning, as well as the designated blocked off areas in town to keep everyone safe.