Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Northeast Arkansas residents are invited later this month to lace up their running shoes and prepare to get colorful.
The annual Color Me D.A.R.E. Fun Run returns for its 10th year on Saturday, April 25, offering a free morning of music, physical activity, and community connection.
Hosted by Jonesboro D.A.R.E., the event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Central Baptist Church Pavilion, located at 3707 Harrisburg Road. Registration opens at the pavilion at 8 a.m.
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The morning is designed for all ages and fitness levels, allowing participants to run, walk, or simply enjoy the festivities. Participants can choose to tackle one or two laps during the main event.
“Everybody gets color packets that we will throw before we get going,” said Jonesboro D.A.R.E. officer Lynae Prater. “They throw it up in the air. Color goes everywhere. It’s the start of the fun race.” Prater also noted that along the route, participants will pass through five different stations where volunteers will throw “lots of color” on them.
The schedule is packed with activities to keep the energy high before the main event.
For younger attendees, a bounce house donated by Jonesboro Party will be available starting at 8:30 a.m., along with this year’s addition of yard games like cornhole, giant Connect Four, and tic-tac-toe. To get everyone ready for the route, a group Zumba warm-up will kick off around 9:45 a.m.
“It brings everything to a whole new level. It gets everybody excited, gets everybody going, and they are ready to do the thing,” Prater said.
The color run/walk will begin at 10 a.m. after the warm-up. Prater emphasized that walking is completely welcomed, noting that walking or slowly jogging often results in getting covered in even more color.
Following the run, attendees can stick around for a series of giveaways featuring items and packages from local sponsors, including Bath and Body Works, Gearhead, Hijinx, and Miracle Kids.
Because the event is free to attend, Prater said it serves as a highly accessible way for families to spend a Saturday morning together while supporting local law enforcement’s community outreach efforts.
“As far as being out there to serve people, to be there for people, give them something to do, give them something fun, give them a safe environment that they know that they can bring their families to,” Prater said.
Seeing the community come together covered in color is a highlight for the department every year, according to Prater.
“The best way to describe it is it just makes my heart so happy, getting to see so many people gather, seeing so many people come out and support us just by showing up,” she said. “We’re not asking for anything. We’re just asking you to show up, come out, have a great time, and we’ll take it from there.”
For more information about the event, view the official Facebook event page, or reach out directly via email at dare@jonesboroar.gov.
Sponsors for the Fun Run are: Miracle Kids, First Community Bank, and Optimist Club of Jonesboro.
UPDATE: This story was updated to include the event sponsors.
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