Events
Race Website
Additional race information can be found at http://www.mwerc.com.
Place
Overland Park, KS US 66013
Description
GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT AND BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THE LIGHTS!
Join us for the inaugural Holiday Luminary 5K at the Overland Park Arboretum. Be one of the first to preview the holiday light display before it opens to the public. The race will start and finish near the LongHouse Visitors Center and feature carolers, music and cookies along the course, and more holiday festivities at the finish line than you can shake a candy cane at!
ENTRY FEE: You're going to love this swag you can wear all season. Long-sleeve event shirts. Awesome light-up finisher medals. Fun light-up add-ons to make yourself extra festive and glowy! Holiday treats. Photo ops. And don't forget all of the holiday lights!!!
ADMISSION TICKETS: The Overland Park Arboretum has a mandatory admissions ticket fee: $5 for adults, $2 for 6-17 years old, and $0 for children 5 and under. This cost is on top of the race entry fee and is required for anyone attending the event (participants and bystanders). You will need to make sure you choose an admission ticket option when you check out. If you would like to purchase additional tickets for people joining you that aren't running, you can pre-purchase them during registration or at the gate. Save time by pre-purchasing admission tickets in advance so you don't have to wait in line. Admission tickets will be distributed at packet pickup.
MEDALS: All finishers will receive a fun lighted medal (pro tip: use them as tree decorations each year!). Our medals are guaranteed to make you smile!
LONG SLEEVE EVENT SHIRTS: All registrants that sign up before the shirt deadline will get one of our long-sleeve event shirts! These shirts are available to those that register before the shirt deadline (November 8) and are unisex sizing. Did we mention they are super soft and perfect for the holidays?
HOLIDAY COOKIE AID STATIONS: All racecourse aid stations will feature a special treat to get you through the course! You will be greeted with a platter full of cookies and a whole lotta cheer.
POST RACE ENTERTAINMENT: The finish venue is a holiday party! Tents at the finish venue create a wonderful and safe meeting place for post-race photo ops with all your friends and fellow runners! Enjoy holiday festivities, delicious treats, and more.
POST RACE MUSIC & DANCING: Our DJ will be spinning holiday beats all evening long inside our tents and outside at the start/finish line area. From classic holiday songs to more upbeat favorites.
AWARDS CEREMONY and RANDOM DOOR PRIZES: There are no official awards ceremonies, but we will have results available and age group winner awards as well. NOTE: We provide prizes for first place in each age group, not top three. Plus, raffle prizes!
Race Contact Info
FAQ
- Can I bring my dog? Unfortunately, our four-legged friends are never allowed in the Arboretum Gardens which is where the Luminary takes place. However, we have other dog-friendly races you should check out.
- Are strollers allowed? Yes, strollers are allowed. There are a few "off road" areas (ie: going on a grass path detour) but otherwise strollers should be able to navigate the course with minimal trouble. Anyone with a stroller will be asked to start in the back of their out-going group.
- Do 1-Milers get medals too? Yes! Everyone deserves to be rewarded for getting out and moving their body.
- Do the 5K and 1-Mile races follow the same course? Mostly. The 5K will split off and finish running their mileage before looping back onto the 1-Mile course.
- What can onlookers do while waiting for their runner? If you are an athletic supporter, you are welcome to join us at the Finisher tent or anywhere by the Start/Finish. Section of the luminary walk will open to general attendance on a rolling basis as runners complete the race. Please ask your supporters to stay off the sidewalks so that the runners can run their best race.
- Are we allowed to walk around after we finish running? As mentioned above, sections of the luminary walk trail will open to everyone on a rolling basis as runners complete the race. DO NOT go out on the trail while the race is still in progress. Staff will give you the green light to meander the gardens. The gardens will remain open until 8:00 p.m. so there will be plenty of time to get pictures with the lights and surrounding beauty.
- Do I need a headlamp since it's a night run? Headlamps are always recommended during night runs for your safety. Flashlights are also welcome.
- What will the course be like? The 1-Mile run route will be completely on the holiday luminary trail paved sidewalks. The 5K will start on the holiday luminary trail, then run out to some of the Arboretum's less-traveled acreage, which will include a paved road for a majority section. The route will loop back into the main section, pass through some of the beautiful tree canopies, and end on the holiday luminary path surrounded by lights.
- Will the course be lit? The course at the beginning and end of the 5K (and the entire 1-Mile) will be surrounded with holiday lights. There are sections of the 5K route that will be dark, but we will have lighting strategically placed for safety, route confirmation, and visibility.
- Will there be restrooms available on the 5K course? The restrooms will be available in the main building which will be close to the Start/Finish. You will also pass a restroom about 0.25 miles into the race before you head out onto the outer loop. There will not be a restroom until you return so plan accordingly.
- When and where is packet pickup? This is kind of hard to find on runsignup since you have to scroll to the bottom of the main page. Packet pickup will be on Thursday, November 21st from 10am-5pm at the Overland Park Arboretum. Day-of packet pickup will open at 4:30pm at the Arboretum.
- What time does the race start? The 5K will start at 6:00pm, followed by the 1 Mile at approximately 6:05pm.
- What are the age groups for awards? Under 12, 13-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+. Age group awards are for first place only.
