Santa Claus is running through downtown Arlington Hts.
Don't look now, but Santa is on the run.
About 1,200 Santas, in fact, who are expected to fill the streets of downtown Arlington Heights on Saturday for the third annual Rotary Santa 5K Run.
“We were the first ones in the area to do (a Santa run), and it's really grown fast,” said Bill Kmiecik of the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights. “It's become our biggest fundraiser.”
After nearly 1,000 Santas turned out for last year's event, Rotary members are predicting more than 1,200 runners will don the five-piece Santa suits that come with each entry and take to the streets Saturday.
At the close of online registration on Monday, organizers had 842 people registered, but they expect as many as 400 to sign up on race day. On site registration will open at 8 a.m. Saturday in the lobby of the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St. in Arlington Heights. Each entry fee is $35.
The race starts at 10 a.m. A staging area and tent for runners will be set up in Harmony Park, located at Campbell Street and Vail Avenue.
Among the running Santas who will be there is Brian Shepard, assistant director of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Shepherd has participated in the event since it started, and this year he plans to run with his 11-year old daughter, Rachel.
“I do other 5Ks throughout the year, but this is by far my favorite,” Shepard said. “It's just such a fun atmosphere, and it's so funny to see people's faces. There's this look of disbelief when they see all these Santas running past.”
Proceeds from the race will benefit the Rotary Club's charitable giving foundation, which distributes grants throughout the community and internationally, including to relief efforts in Haiti.
“We were looking for a signature event that would raise funds, be highly visible for the Rotary Club and be a community event,” said club president Kris Stabler. “This hits on all cylinders.”
Racers will line up in front of the park for the race start, and finish one block west on Highland Avenue, just north of the parking garage. The 5K-route will weave runners through downtown and the Scarsdale and Pioneer Park neighborhoods.
For those who registered online, packet pickup takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Runners' High ‘n Tri, 112 W. Campbell St. in Arlington Heights.
Mark Rouse, owner of Runners' High, has observed growing interest in local runs. He points to the Turkey Trot runs that took place in Long Grove and Palatine last week, each drawing more than 1,000 participants.
“People are always looking to get in a workout over the holidays,” Rouse said. “But this one has the added attraction of having a novelty to it. Whenever you can run with another 1,000 Santas, it's fun.”
For more information, visit: www.rotarysantarun.org.