The first-ever Reindeer Run, a 5K and 1-mile Fun run and walk scheduled for Dec. 21, will not only raise funds for the Festus High School Project Prom but also will help people burn off some holiday-season calories, an event organizer said.
Jilliane Holmes told the Festus City Council Nov. 13 that she checked with local running organizations and there are no similar events scheduled near Christmas in Jefferson County and council members voted to give Holmes’ group permission to hold the run through the city’s streets.
“People from Jefferson County have to go to St. Charles and St. Louis for runs like this in December,” she said. “There have been Thanksgiving runs in Jefferson County, but we checked and there’s nothing like this.”
Holmes said youngsters will be encouraged to participate in the run and those who do will get antler headbands. Children, though, will run only at the Festus High School track, so she envisions swarms of kiddies running around the track wearing their antlers.
For other participants, the 5K Run/Walk course will proceed from the school through the streets of Festus, ending at the Festus High track.
She said the Project Prom committee plans to recruit teams of student carolers to sing at various points along the run/walk course.
Holmes said organizers hope of attracting college students returning home for the holidays to participate in the run.
The cost for adults to participate in the 5K Run/Walk is $20 up to Dec. 14 and $25 for late registration starting Dec. 14; and $15 for students (including college students). Participants will receive an event T-shirt.
The price for youngsters to take part in the 1-mile fun run is $10 for ages 6 to 12. Children under the age of 6 may participate for free. Fun runners will receive antlers instead of T-shirts.
The 1-mile fun run is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and the 5K Run/Walk is set for 9 a.m., with an awards presentation at 9:45 a.m.
Holmes said the event will take place under almost any type of weather conditions, except for ice.
For more information, call 314-302-5538 or send emails to jilliane.holmes@gmail.com. Online registration is available at www.fleetfeetstlouis.com/calendars/races or on facebook at www.facebook.com/Festus5kReindeerRun.
