Ridgefield’s Overlook Park bustled with hundreds of people dressed in white for the annual Color Run. After last year’s virtual Color Run, participants were excited to get back outside and gather together for the wildly colorful two mile fundraiser for Ridgefield schools.
\r\nA big blue inflatable arch displayed the logo of The Ridge Association, the Sunset Ridge-View Ridge parent-teacher association, at the entry to Overlook Park. The Ridge volunteers were busy managing registration and check-in, handing out t-shirts and color packets to racers. A select group of racers received sunglasses sponsored by Opsahl Dawson and cinch bags sponsored by Draper Orthodontics.
\r\nSeveral booths helped create a festival atmosphere for the event. The Ridgefield Art Association brought doors covered in chalkboard paint that children decorated with bright drawings. The Chamber of Commerce brought a prize wheel, and the Robinson Group offered face painting. Kids walked around the booths and the park, showing their packets of colored chalk to each other, waiting anxiously for the moment they could toss them in the air.
\r\nAs the start of the event drew closer, students from Dance Fusion NW performed a dance routine for the crowd. “DJ Credo” provided live music for line dance warm ups with View Ridge Middle School PE teacher Jerry DeShazer.
\r\nTina Krause, president of The Ridge, introduced Mayor Pro Tem Rob Aichele, who started the race with a countdown. At the conclusion of the countdown, runners and walkers cheered as they flung colored powder high in the air, creating plumes of bright colors contrasting against the bright blue sky. Colorful clouds floated on the wind out toward the Refuge, as runners walked through bright powder splattered across the brickwork. The race was off to a beautiful start.
\r\nRunners followed a course that started on the downtown bridge. Along the race course were four more color stations, sponsored by iQ Credit Union, ilani, the Mayhew Team, and Acero (an IDM community), where kids ran happily through even more brightly colored clouds. By the end of the run, their white race shirts were covered in colorful streaks and splotches, and they were ready to enjoy the post-race DJ and activities.
\r\nThe Ridge partnered with the City of Ridgefield to hold the fun run as part of Ridgefield’s popular First Saturday event and as a kickoff for Ridgefield Youth Arts Month. And the Color Run served as a fundraiser for student, teacher, and school activities at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School and View Ridge Middle School.
\r\nThe Color Run was a great success, bringing the community together for a fun day that supported a good cause. The Ridge coordinator Tina Krause said, “We definitely got lucky with the beautiful weather and a great turnout! Can’t wait until next year.”
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