More than 20 Newton bakeries will offer free samples, specials and discounts during the fifth annual Newton Bakery Crawl on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26.

The two-day event spans bakeries across Newton's village centers. It costs nothing to participate and requires no registration, according to the city's economic development office. Visitors just need to mention the Bakery Crawl when placing an order to unlock each shop's promotion.

Three bakeries are joining the crawl for the first time, Newton Economic Development said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The office did not name the newcomers.

One deal already public: Lakon Paris Patisserie is selling pastry boxes normally priced at $30 to $40 for $19.99, with gift cards hidden in some boxes.

Bettina Scemama, owner of Bettina's Bakery in Upper Falls, has participated every year since the crawl launched. She called it one of her favorite events.

"Every year we welcome lots of new visitors who then become loyal customers," Scemama told Patch.

The crawl is entirely self-guided. Participants can bike, walk or drive between stops at their own pace, making it easy to fold into a Saturday morning routine or turn into an all-day tour of Newton's neighborhoods. There is no set route and no time limit.

Lauren Berman, Newton's director of economic development, told Patch the event gives residents a way to explore the village centers while supporting small businesses. She said visitors can map out a bike route, stop by a bakery between weekend activities or stock up on favorites. Every purchase goes directly to a local business, Berman said.

The crawl has grown steadily since its 2022 launch. This year's edition is the largest yet, with the three first-time participants pushing the total past 20.

A full list of participating bakeries, promotions and store hours is posted at itsinnewton.com/bakerycrawl.