YMCA will offer costumed 5K, Monster Mini, and more
This article is brought to you by the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market. Barring severe weather, the Farmers Market will be ready to serve you this Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. Get the best in locally sourced food and handmade crafts along with good information and great live music. The market is located at the corner of Mulberry and Washington streets. See you Saturday!
Downtown Kokomo will be terrorized by zooming zombies, speedy superheroes, and miniature monsters this October as the Kokomo Family YMCA presents its first Halloween Hustle on Sat., Oct. 26.
The event will feature an untimed 5K run/walk in Halloween costumes, a “Monster Mini” run for the kids, costume contests, food, music, and fun. According to Tony Budenz, Marketing and Communications Director for the YMCA, the day will start at 10 a.m. with the 5K, allowing the grown-ups to strut their costumed stuff in the race. Packet pick-up starts at 8 a.m.
The 5K will feature runners in front, walkers following, and families bringing up the rear. The racecourse may change due to downtown construction.
Early-bird registration for this run is $30 until Sept. 9. The price rises to $35 through Oct. 6. Late registration is $40 and runs through Oct. 25. Registrations can continue up to the day of the event for $50. Runners can register as a team of four to 10 people and receive a $5 discount. Registration must be completed by Oct. 6 to ensure runners receive a commemorative t-shirt by the day of the race.
A costume contest will follow the race, but runners won’t have to worry about their attire’s condition. Entries in the contest may be submitted via photo or video in advance to keep the playing field even. Participants must be present to win, however.
The contests will be broken down by age. There will be divisions for infants (age 4 and under), kids (ages 5-12), teens (ages 13-17), and adults (ages 18 and up).
After the awards have been given, the Halloween Hustle turns its attention to the kids. A Mini Monster Run, just eight blocks long, will give children ages 10 and under a chance to show off their costumes while racing through downtown.
“The kids will just run a few blocks in their costumes,” said Mark Sutton, YMCA Sports and Recreation Director. “We're hoping people will make an aisle for them to parade and show off their costumes. Maybe give them a high five along the way. And we’ll have Batman there running with them.”
Early-bird registration for the Monster Mini is $10 until Sept. 9. The price rises to $15 through Oct. 6. Late registration is $20 and runs through Oct. 25. Registrations can continue up to the day of the event for $30.
Once the running is complete, everyone will be able to enjoy lunch from visiting food trucks and do a little trunk-or-treating along Union Street in front of the YMCA. A selection of vendors also will be on hand, passing out candy and information.
All proceeds from the event will help fund the Kokomo Family YMCA’s annual campaign, which enables programming for members and subsidizes memberships for those in need.
For additional information about the Halloween Hustle, email mark.sutton@kokomoymca.org.