The Arnold Parks and Recreation Department will once again hold a run on Thanksgiving, providing people the opportunity to burn off calories before their big holiday meal.
As usual, the park department also is competing in the Missouri Park and Recreation Association’s Feed the Masses food collection competition.
The city also will hold a Thanksgiving-themed trivia contest for seniors this month.
The 17th annual Gobble Gobble Run will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, at Arnold City Park, 1 Bradley Beach Road off Jeffco Boulevard near the Meramec River.
Participants may walk or run a 5K course that runs along the Meramec River, and children may participate in a free half-mile run. Those who want to participate may register for the event at raceroster.com.
The 5K run will start at 8 a.m., and the kids race is scheduled for 9 a.m.
It costs $34 to register for the 5K course. The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 25.
Arnold Parks and Recreation Department Director Dave Crutchley said at least 700 people had already registered for the run, and he expects to see 1,300 participants this year.
“We are expecting a 30 percent increase in participation from last year,” he said.
The three male participants and three female participants who finish the course in the fastest times will each receive a plaque. The top three male and female participants in each age category will receive a medal.
Crutchley said the annual run has become a tradition for many families.
“We have seen children (who participated in past runs) grow up, and they now have families of their own who they bring,” he said. “I think it is a way for people to get their morning started, work out and then go have their Thanksgiving meals.”
As part of the run, the Parks and Recreation Department will also accept cash donations for the Gateway Food Pantry, formerly called the Arnold Food Pantry. As of Nov. 6, the department had collected $618.07 of its $1,299 goal to donate to the pantry, located at 2024 Key West Drive in Arnold.
The parks department also is asking participants to donate non-perishable food items for the pantry when they pick up their race packets from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 26-27 at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
“It (donating to the pantry) is very important,” said Ajsa Roach, parks and recreation deputy director. “Especially around the holidays, there are quite a few people who are hungry. I think it is awesome that we are able to help out.”
Feed the Masses
Arnold is looking to win the Feed the Masses food drive competition for a fifth straight year.
Five years ago the Missouri Park and Recreation Association created the food drive, which has local municipalities compete from Nov. 1-30 to see who collects the most food items for area charities.
For this year’s competition, 21 parks and recreation departments in the St. Louis region will take part and donate the collected food to local food banks.
Arnold is collecting donations at the rec center, and the food donated during the Gobble Gobble Run will be included in the department’s collection for the Feed the Masses competition.
Roach said she believes the city will win the competition again.
“The Arnold community pulls together, and people are very generous. We are thankful for that.”
Trivia
The parks and rec department will hold its first Seniors Thanksgiving Trivia Festival from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the rec center.
It costs $5 to attend the event, and registration is required. To register, visit the rec center or call 636-282-2380, ext. 1411.
“It is to promote social interaction for Arnold’s senior community,” Roach said.
For more information about November events, call 636-282-2380.