Arlington Hts. Rotary Club’s 5K Santa Run is Dec. 1

The Arlington Heights Rotary Club has 2,000 Santa suits and more than 1,400 runners, so if you still want to participate in one of the Northwest suburbs’ great holiday spectacles, you can.

The Rotary Santa Run, a 5K tradition that covers the streets of downtown Arlington Heights, will step off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 at Campbell and Dunton. Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder will be the celebrity race-starter.

For kids 10 and under, the four-block Reindeer Run starts at 9 a.m. at the same location.

Race fees are $23-$33 for the 5K Santa Run; $23-$33 for the 1-mile walk and $5 for the Reindeer Run. The race raises money for local and global charities that the Rotary Club benefits.

Online registration is closed, but you can still sign up from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday at Athletico, Sigwalt Street at Arlington Heights Road. On Saturday, register from 7:30-9 a.m. in the lobby of Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 Campbell St., as long as the Santa suits are available. (Registration on Saturday costs an extra $5).

The race is on rain or shine; there is free parking in municipal garage.