Santa Run, Walk 'n Roll

The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham is hosting their first Santa Run, Walk, 'N Roll on Friday December 7th, 2018 from 5:30 PM to 7 PM just before the Harrisonburg Holiday Parade. We're making a quick dash in Santa costumes down South Main Street (half a mile) to raise funds and awareness for The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, Inc.

TICKET INFO

"Santa" sign ups are $25 dollars per person for people 12 years of age and under, tickets for kids (3-11 years), current college students, family members or caregivers of an Arc participant, or staff of The Arc not working the event, tickets are $10 each. No charge for children under 3 years.

Santa costumes for adults and elf ears for children are provided (a keepsake) as well as race bibs, a T-shirt, and a drawstring bag for each registrant.

Can't make the Santa run but want to support the cause? You can donate an amount of your choosing by clicking on "Tickets" and selecting the "Donate" option that appears. You can also be sponsored to run by your company, family, or friends by starting a team!

STARTING A TEAM

We need team captains! These key leaders use their existing networks to encourage individuals to sign up and therefore push us towards our financial goals by creating their own team page through Eventbrite. Teams can be related to a club, job, center of faith, sorority, fraternity, university, business, or a mixture of the above! A prize for biggest team will be awarded at the beginning of the run. 

Your team will need to have a specific name created through our Eventbrite page that is communicated to prospective team members (Ex: Santa’s Little Elves). Once this name has been shared (registrants will not see a list of available teams so make sure to communicate this detail!), individuals can sign up on our Eventbrite page under your team at their own convenience. When an individual signs up under your team name, they’ll be able to read through any specific details you want them to know (where to meet before the run, goals for how many team members you’re hoping sign up, etc). Team captains have the unique ability to edit their team page throughout the registration process which ends December 6th.

For step-by-step instructions about how to create a team, check out our Santa Run Fundraising Guide.

PLEDGED DONATIONS

It’s easy to collect pledges from friends and family on your behalf as a runner. This is for in-person donations by check or cash for those who will not be participating in the run itself but would like to support the cause (if they would like to donate by card, refer them to this Eventbrite page to donate). Simply print out and fill out this pledge form and bring it along with all checks and cash on the day of the event. Want to start a team AND gather pledges? Go for it! A prize will be given to the individual with the highest number of donations and the most donated total!

DAY OF DETAILS

Arrival: Please arrive by 5:30 PM on the day of the event so that we can make sure all are registered before the run begins. Check in is under the Friendly City Food Co-op's pavilion by their parking lot (no proof of registration required). Adult registrants 12 and older will receive a Santa costume, which we encourage all to wear during the race, and registered children 3-11 will receive elf ears. All registrants also receive a T-shirt, race bib, and drawstring bag when checking in. Music and hot beverages are provided before the run while we announce winners for our fabulous contests! Costumes will be provided and are yours to keep!

Route: Santas will be escorted to Rock Street and begin the race down South Main Street promptly at 6:30 PM. The finish line is at the intersection of Warren street by City Hall, exactly half a mile south of Rock Street. The event ends immediately after everyone crosses the finish line so feel free to stay and cheer on those finishing behind you or find a good spot to watch the parade which takes place at 7 PM.

Parking: The Santa Run will take place immediately before the Harrisonburg Parade so we suggest arriving early in order to find parking. The closest parking garage is the E. Elizabeth Garage located across the street from the Food Co-op where there may also be available parking. There is also parking in the neighborhood East of the Food Co-op on the other side of Mason Street.

Day of Registration: Have a friend who wants to join last minute? No problem. They can register day of in-person upon arrival although we encourage all to register online so we have enough goodies to give out! If they want to receive an individualized racing bib, they'll need to sign up by Monday, December 3rd.

Pets: We love dogs! They are welcome to join us.

Ooh and make sure to dress warm...

Contests! Prizes!

During registration, music and hot beverages will be provided to keep you warm! Prizes will be awarded for the following contests so get out that holiday decor!

Most Funds Raised by a Team
Highest Number of Individual Runners on a Single Team
Most Funds Raised by an Individual Runner
Most Funds Raised by an Arc Participant
Most Funds Raised by a Corporation or Organization
Most Festively Decorated Wheelchair or Walker

VOLUNTEERING

Interested in volunteering? There are many ways you can do so! Volunteers are needed for pre-run duties as well as day-of tasks. Are you a business owner who wants to donate a prize? A photographer, musician, or graphic designer who wants to share specialty skills? Contact marketing@hrarc.org so we can match your talents and gifts with our needs!

FAQs

Do I have to participate in the run to donate?

Nope! Feel free to donate through Eventbrite by selecting the "Donate"ticket under "Individual" or "Team" if you want to support a specific group (you will need to have the team's specific name).

Do you have another website?

Yes, general information about The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham can be found at www.hrarc.org and specifics about our first annual Santa Run can be found at www.ArcSantaRun.org

Do I need to bring a santa costume?

Nope! We gotcha' covered. All costumes are yours to keep after the race.

Is there a rain date for bad weather?

No. Unless there is dangerous weather, the event will take place rain or shine.

Are refunds possible?

Unfortunately, Eventbrite is not able to offer refunds but you can rest assured that your donation will go directly to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County's very own Arc program.

My business is interested in becoming an official sponsor. Who should I contact?

There are various levels of sponsorships for the Santa Run which you can find here. Feel free to contact development@hrarc.org with any further questions.

What are Team Captains responsible for?

Team Captains spearhead the process of creating a team on Eventbrite (very easy!) and inviting friends, family, and community members to be a part of their "Santa team". Team captains help get people excited about being a part of the run while answering questions regarding what the fundraising money is going towards (for more info about The Arc mission and services visit our site).

For step-by-step instructions on creating a team on Eventbrite, please refer to our Santa Run Fundraising Guide. Team captains also act as liaisons between The Arc and their team. If any questions may arise, feel free to contact our staff at communications@hrarc.org.

Can I gather pledges AND join a team?

Absolutely!

Where do I get the Pledge Form?

Print out this form and you're ready to go!

Where do I turn in the Pledge Form?

Pledge forms and all donations can be turned in during registration day of.

Can my team members gather pledges?

Definitely!

Is there a deadline for registration?

Yes and no. If you want an individualized bib (whether on a team or running solo), you'll need to register online by the end of the day Monday December 3rd. Feel free to register online up through December 6th but be aware that we will not have a personalized bib for you. You can also register day of, in person, same restrictions apply.

Can I take pictures during the event?

Please do! We want to get the word out about our services and the inclusion of those with different forms of developmental abilities and images are a great way to do so. Please share your photos by tagging @TheArcHburg and using #ArcSantaRun when posting.

Will The Arc be taking pictures?

Yes, we will have a photographer taking photos throughout the event. By registering with us, each runner gives The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, Inc. the right to use their photo in various media outlets (see waiver for more details).

Can I bring an unregistered child or additional participant with me?

Yes. Children under 3 are free and do not need to register. If you bring anyone over the age of three, we ask that you register them during registration the day of which will include a liability waiver. To ensure they receive a T-shirt, costume, and bib, they will need to register by Monday December 3rd through Eventbrite.

Is there a waiver for the run?

Yes, you can find a digital copy of our waiver here. When you sign up through Eventbrite, you will be given the option to accept or refuse our liability waiver and will not need to sign in person the day of. If you register in person on the day of the race, you will be asked to sign our liability waiver. If you do not sign, we will be unable to allow you to participate in the race due to liability reasons.

Where can I find more information about the Harrisonburg Holiday Parade?

Visit their website for more info.

I have a question that's not listed here. Who can I contact?

Please refer all questions to marketing@hrarc.org