The sights and sounds of the holiday season will again race through the streets of Washington on the Saturday following Thanksgiving with the revival of the annual Jingle Bell Run this year. Washington Demon head boys track and field coach Steve Roth, along with his wife Tammy, spearhead coordinating the event and after pausing the 2020 edition due to COVID-19 and his health following knee surgery, it is back November 27th.
The course will take participants on a tour of Washington beginning near the courthouse in front of JP’s 207 just off the Washington square, circling around the square, turning west on Jefferson Street, through Sunset Park, by St. James and then back to the square, there will be two laps of the course. This week, Roth talked about prizes that are available for participants, where they donate proceeds that are raised, and his excitement about the event’s return. “We have some great prizes and great donations. Brown’s Shoe Fit gave us a pair of shoes to giveaway, so we’ll draw for those. We’ve already donated to the YMCA for toys and we’ll have day passes to give away. A lot of the restaurants in town, we’ve bough gift certificates to give away too. Those will go to the ‘best dressed’ in the race. We love to have people dress up and we love to have them bring their animals and dress them up too. We’re involved with the Washington Chamber with their Tour of Homes, Paws N More Animal Shelter is big to us so we give to them also. We ask that participants bring a couple of canned goods because we would like to donate those to HACAP. HyVee donated two $50 food certificates to us to giveaway. This is a ‘fun run’, so that’s what we try to make it a fun run. We’re looking forward to it! We’re back! We’re excited!”
Roth stresses the event is a “fun run” so runners and walkers alike are encouraged to dress up holiday style and bring their pets to join them on the course. Cost is $25 to register and doing so before the end of the day on Monday, November 22nd will guarantee the entrant a t-shirt. There will also be open registration up to and including the day of the race at JP’s 207. Cost is $25. The race starts at 9a.m. Saturday, November 27th. Sign up sheets are available at various locations throughout town from Roth, the Washington Chamber, the Washington Chamber website and by clicking the link below.