TAYLOR — Are you ready to run?
The 2017 Taylor Winterfest, scheduled for Nov. 25, will include a “Whoville”-themed Winterfest 5K run for the first time, and is actively seeking participants.
The Winterfest 5K will be held at 2 p.m., starting at the Heritage Park Petting Farm, 12803 Pardee Road. The event features custom Winterfest beanies and gloves for all participating, Winterfest finisher medals, age group awards, costume contest with awards, overall top male and female finisher awards, bib tag timing by Everal, and a Christmas treat.
Entry fees are $25 before Oct. 25, $30 before Nov. 24 and $35 the day of the race. Race day packet pickup is scheduled to being at noon Nov. 25.
To register, click here.
Proceeds from the run will benefit the Downriver Fish & Loaves Food Pantry. Race coordinators also will be accepting donations of canned goods during race day packet pickup.
The Taylor Winterfest is a day of family fun. After the 5K, the Winterfest Parade will travel down Goddard Road, from City Hall to Pardee, and then turn toward its ultimate destination, Heritage Park’s Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion.
Once at the park, crowds will be entertained by music and various activities. Eventually, the official city of Taylor Christmas Tree (housed in the Sheridan Center all winter long), will be lit by Mayor Rick Sollars and his special guest for the day, Santa Claus.
Winterfest also marks the opening of Santa’s Magic Forest. The Magic Forest, housed in the Activities Building in Heritage Park, uses many of the former J.L. Hudson displays that bring the season to life.
Santa’s Magic Forest, which also benefits the Downriver Fish & Loaves Food Pantry, will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas.
General admission (cash only) is $3. Children 3 and under are admitted free. A picture with Santa Claus is $8, provided by Rosecrans Picture Perfect Photography.
To follow Winterfest on Facebook or more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/taylorwinterfest.