2024 KidsLinked Run the Lights
Presented by Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians
Saturday, 12/14/24 4:40-6:30am
Run or walk our 7th annual magical 3- or 6-mile run through the 3-mile light show at Butch Bando's Fantasy of lights on December 14th! Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights. The only time to run through this amazing light show (only available via car otherwise). Most fun ever on a race! Bring your family and friends ready to register early as it will sell out quickly - Limited 700 runners/walkers.
Super Sale Details - STARTS 8AM Tuesday – 9/24/24:
- Super Sale Special Only $33 ($38 for 6 mile) – or Upgrade for $5 more to receive Snow Trails Experience voucher for all-day lift ticket and ski/snowboard equipment rental ($150 value)!
- NO REGISTRATION FEES – TUESDAY 9/24 ONLY!!
- BONUS #1: Register on 9/24 and be eligible to win an overnight stay at ANY Drury Inn in the United States.
- BONUS #2: ALL Runners for super sale receive either free Lemonade gift card (Adults) or Kids Combo gift card from Raising Canes Chicken Fingers.
- BONUS #3: Guaranteed Race Time - Super Sale Registrations Only!
- Opportunity to purchase On-site Parking Pass: Will sell out, hurry!
- Santa Finish Line Medal for all Runners!
- Family only Race Wave - 6:20AM
** BONUS: Two festive races in two days! Run both Rudolph Holiday Run on 12/13 and Run the Lights on 12/14! SUPER SALE: no registration fees for Rudolph Holiday Run--only $30! Find out more: CLICK HERE!
Run the Lights -Race Details:
- When: Saturday, December 14th, 2024 (race waves times every 10 min from 4:40AM - 6:30AM)
- Race Details: Run the 3- or 6-mile option. Huge light show of Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights! It's simply a magical run of not stop lights. Normally only accessible via vehicle - your chance to run it! Have fun and treat yourself. 3- or 6-mile option (6 mile is 2 loops)*.
- Race Limit: This year we can only accept 700 runners (11 waves)! Don't delay signing up!
- Wave Starts: Racers/walkers will be placed into groups of 65 and staged at 10-minute wave start times (see below if you want your own private wave start).
- Wave Start times (needs to be dark): 4:40AM or 5:40 (6 Mile), then 4:50AM and every 10 minutes afterwards (all 3 miles). Special family wave at 6:20AM. Wave start time will be assigned after registration - except 6 miles only happens at 4:40AM or 5:40AM and Family Wave at 6:20AM. Guarantee your wave time range by purchasing a parking pass or purchase during the Super Sale. Wave times preference will be assigned based on order date/time - register to get your preferred time!
- Location: Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights (Alum Creek State Park 3305 South Old State Rd, 43015, Delaware, OH, 43015)
- Race Distance*: 3 Mile (or 6 mile - 2 laps for 4:40AM or 5:40 time slot - limited space!)
- Family Wave: Special Family Wave 6:20AM. Families and kids only in this wave. Special prize at finish line for the kids!
- Awards: Each Wave Start we'll award medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place - by gender - yes, each wave! Race your friends, or others.
- Santa Finish Line Medal: Santa Finish Line Medal for all runners!!
- Interested in being a vendor: Contact greg@kidslinked.com
- Note: No spectators or pets allowed. Strollers are fine.
*Note: Actual distance is about 2.9 miles and 5.8 miles
Race Fees (+ $5 for 6 mile):
- Super Sale Day 1 ($33 – ONLY Day No Registration Fees!): 9/24
- Super Sale ($33): 9/25 - 10/1
- Early Entry ($38): 10/2 - 11/7
- T-Shirt Deadline Entry ($40): 11/8 - 11/21 - 11:59PM
- Late Entry ($45 - shirt not guaranteed): 11/21 - 12/3
- Packet Pickup Days ($50): 12/4-12/11 - if not sold out
Parking Options:
- Parking (Optional #1 - Onsite - LIMIT 100): $10 - Park at race start. (See further down for details)
- Parking (Optional #2 - Firehouse - LIMIT 75): FREE - Park at firehouse across the street from the race. So close you can almost walk to race. We will have a shuttle that gets you to the race
- Parking (Option #3 - Olentangy Berlin High School): FREE - We will have a shuttle to get you back and forth from the race
All Runners Receive:
- Tritan 1L Sports Water Bottle at the finish line
- Santa Finish Line Medal for all runners!
- Special 1st-3rd Santa Medal for top 3 male/female runners for each wave!
- Free Lemonade (Adults) or Kids Meal Combo to Raising Canes (kids)!
- $5 off Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights drive-thru show (come back and drive thru with your car!)
- Race T-shirt - must register by Thursday, 11/21/24. After date, limited # of shirts available
- Special item from Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians
- Ticket to Post Race Party – Westerville Winterfest (12/15)! See details below.
Wave Starts & Awards:
- Wave Frequency: Starts every 10 minutes
- Wave Size: Will consist of 60-65 runners or walkers
- Race Awards by Wave: Top 3 runners in each age group will receive a medal
- Race Wave times: 4:40AM & 5:40 (6 mile) - all others 3 mile - 4:50, 5, 5:10, 5:20, 5:30, 5:40, 5:50, 6:00, 6:10. Family Wave only 6:20 (purchase a parking pass to guarantee the range for your race wave)
- Want your own wave start? Contact Greg Yoakam at greg@kidslinked.com. Must have 50 runners and up to 60 max. You will have your own race wave, and we'll still give awards to the top 3 + all the finish line items!
- How to get grouped together: There is a field called "Team Name". Have everyone in your group use the same Team Name and we will group you together. Maximum grouping is 60.
- Staging Area: 10 minutes prior to your race, your wave start will be announced. At that time, you will be requested to report to the staging area.
IMPORTANT PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: 3 Options for Parking:
- Option #1 - Parking Pass $10 - at race site - LIMIT 100 (guarantee race wave range by purchasing a parking pass): 50 Parking spaces at the Alum Creek Park per race range (race start times of Section 1 - 4:40-5:30, Section 2 - 5:40-6:20) You need to purchase a parking pass in order to get one of these very limited spaces. $10 per car. Your name will be on a list, no need to print out a ticket. We will admit your car being on our registration list. Parking Pass is required to park at the Alum Creek Park. $10 per parking pass. Your race wave will happen within whatever parking pass range you select.
- Option #2 - Parking Pass FREE - LIMIT 75 - Berlin Township Fire Department - so close you can almost walk to event! (2708 Lackey Old State Rd, Delaware, OH 43015): 75 Parking spaces at the fire department. Take a quick shuttle to the start of the race! Free, but must pre-register. Your name on will be on a list, no need to bring ticket.
- Option #3 - Race Shuttle - FREE: Everyone else will need to park at the Olentangy Berlin High School (3140 Berlin Station Rd, Delaware, OH 43015). It's a short 5–7-minute shuttle ride over. Parking at the high school is free!
Packet Pick-up Options:
· Pick-up Day #1: Wednesday, December 4th – 5-7PM – Roadrunner of Hilliard (3687 Park Mill Run Dr, Hilliard, OH 43026)
· Pick-up Day #2: Saturday, December 7th – 1-3PM – Cleveland Children’s Festival – Market Square Building at Crocker Park (239 Market St, Westlake, OH 44145)
· Pick-up Day #3: Wednesday, December 11th – 5-7PM – Roadrunner or Worthington (535 Lakeview Plaza Blvd, Worthington, OH 43085)
· Pick-up Day #4: Friday, December 13th – 5-8PM – Rudolph Holiday Light Run @ the Yuletide Village (10542 OH-73, Waynesville, OH 45068)
Post Race Party:
We have an exciting Post Race Party planned! Super fun way to have fun after the race. Below are the details:
- What: Post Race Party – Westerville Winterfest!
- When: Sunday, December 15th from 11:30AM - 3:00PM
- Where: Otterbein University - Clements Recreation Center (180 Center St, Westerville, OH 43081)
- Fun Items: Includes tons of activities, carnival games, holiday shopping, live magician, free ornaments, park, free candy canes, and lots of other goodies! Neat items for the holidays, great things to improve your home, and lot of other helpful items! For the kids we have a huge bounce park ($6) and tons of activities.
- Santa Visit Option: 90 of the race registrants will receive a special Santa Visit (optional for those racers with younger children), plus a visit from one of Santa's elves. Children can drop off their wish list to Santa & receive a fun candy cane! Free, but requires a ticket you request during the registration process. You will be assigned a Santa Visit time between noon -3PM).
- Activity Tickets at the event: 2 free activity tickets to play of our 10 fun carnival games, mini golf, laser tag, indoor ice-less skate rink, climbing wall, gyroscope ride, or holiday hayride for all registered runners/walkers.
Friends / fellow runners can also pick up the packet for you.
Note: No Race Day packet pickup.
Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights Details:
Find out more details about the amazing Butch Bando's fantasy of Lights evening drive-thru light show CLICK HERE. Season starts November 22nd!
Please note: KidsLinked has a NO REFUND policy for all events. Course closes at 7:00AM, must be completed with your run/walk by 7:00AM. If you run or walk slower, please choose an earlier start time.
There will not be chip timing on either race. Final times will not be posted, but finish line awards and super neat water bottles (all) will be presented in order of finish!
Health and Safety Plan:
You cannot leave the road during the course to go to the bathroom (there will be one at each of the shuttle pick up areas, but no bathroom at the Delaware State Park where the race happens). There are wires and other items that you can easily trip over that will take down the entire light display, so please do not leave the course during the run/walk. Thank you :)!
Course Maps:
Coming Soon!
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Would you like to be a sponsor of this fun event? Great way to be seen by a lot of runners. Sponsorship Opportunities: Please send email to Greg Yoakam at greg@kidslinked.com
Race Day Updates:
Race Day Updates on the Run the Lights will be either posted on the KidsLinked Facebook page or via email. Final runner instructions will be sent the week of the race.
Spectator Information:
No spectators are allowed. Only runners with an official race bib for Run the Lights will be allowed on the racecourse.
Inclement Weather Policy:
The Run the Lights will start as scheduled at 4:40AM/5:40AM for the 6 mile or 4:50AM - 6:20AM for various 3-mile wave starts. on December 14, 2024, regardless of rain, snow or cold temperatures.
If there is visible lightning in the area, the race will be delayed for a minimum of 15 minutes. The race would only be further delayed, postponed or cancelled if extreme conditions jeopardize the safety of participants.
Please follow KidsLinked for constant updates and listen closely to all public address announcements on Race Day for information and instruction.