It’s time once again for area kids to put on their running shoes as the 26th annual Great Pumpkin Dash Cross Country Festival is just around the corner! The Pumpkin Dash sponsored by CGH Medical Center, the Sterling Park District and Kunes Country Auto Group, will take place on Saturday, September 30th at Hoover Park in Sterling. On-site registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues throughout the morning. The first race begins at 11 a.m. Please register at least 15 minutes prior to your race.
Approximate start times for each age group are as follows: 11 a.m. – Pee Wee Race (walkers under the age of 2); 11:15 a.m. – 3 year olds; 11:30 a.m. – 4 & 5 year olds; 12 noon – 6 & 7 year olds; 12:30 p.m. – 8 & 9 year olds; and 1 p.m. – 10, 11 & 12 year olds.
The winner of each heat receives a larger
pumpkin, but the first 1000 finishers will receive a small pumpkin from
Selmi’s Pumpkin Patch. In addition to the
pumpkin, runners also receive a coupon redeemable for free lunch at the
Sterling Optimist Club food tent and giveaways.
While the main emphasis of Pumpkin Dash is on the races, there are many other activities the whole family can enjoy. Here is a list of what to expect…
- Miller’s Petting Zoo
- Bounce Houses
- Hayrack Wagon rides
- Face painting
- Ambulance tours conducted by the CGH Medical Center EMS Department
- And more!
Although free to all participants, $1 free-will per person donation will be accepted.