Some families will spend Halloween morning sleeping in. Others will be at Moraine Valley Community College, dressed in costume and getting ready to run.
The 13th annual Halloween 5K Run/Walk returns Saturday, Oct. 31, bringing runners, walkers and families to the Palos Hills campus for a morning that includes much more than the 3.1-mile race.
“The Halloween 5K is unique because it is not only a run/walk event open to the community but includes a morning full of family-friendly activities,” said Jana Terborg, Halloween 5K race director and associate director of programs at Moraine Valley’s Health, Fitness & Recreation Center.
The 5K starts at 9 a.m. at Moraine Valley, 9000 W. College Parkway. Participants can run or walk the chip-timed course through campus.
While parents and other family members are on the course, children can spend time at the indoor Little Pumpkins Patch. The free activity area will be open from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and is supervised by trained staff, giving families the option of having their children participate in activities while they take part in the race.
Then it’s the kids’ turn to hit the course.
The Kid’s Dash begins at 10:15 a.m. and is open to children ages 3 to 12.
There is also plenty of room for Halloween fun. A costume contest begins at 10 a.m., with awards for individual and group costumes. The morning ends with trunk-or-treating from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., an activity open to all ages and the community.
The race gives participants a chance to help Moraine Valley students. Proceeds go to the Moraine Valley Foundation, which provides scholarship support to students with financial need.
“All who participate in Halloween 5K race day events make a difference in the lives of MVCC students by helping them afford a college education,” Terborg said.
Participants who register in advance receive a T-shirt. Prizes go to top finishers in each age category; costumes are encouraged.
Registration for the 5K is $35 for community members and alumni and $25 for Moraine Valley students and employees. The Kid’s Dash costs $10. Prices increase by $5 on Aug. 31, another $5 on Oct. 1 and another $5 on race day.
Sponsorship opportunities are available from $100 to $1,500.
The Halloween 5K is hosted by Moraine Valley’s Health, Fitness & Recreation Center in conjunction with the Moraine Valley Foundation.