PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the Wintergreen Arts Center are teaming up again to present the fifth annual Color Presque Isle 5K on Saturday, Aug. 26.
The event, in which participants dress in white while bystanders shower them with colored powder, benefits arts programming in Presque Isle. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at Riverside Park.
Color Presque Isle 5K events in past years have attracted hundreds of people of all ages and running abilities and raised thousands of dollars for downtown arts programming.
“We are so pleased to be hosting our Color PI 5K again this year, and to be celebrating our milestone fifth year,” Rachel Rice, Color Presque Isle 5K event co-director with UMPI, said. “It’s so much fun to see families and friends gather together to get covered in color by our enthusiastic crew of volunteers. People always leave our events with big smiles and looking like walking works of art.
It’s hard to believe that so much fun provides so much support for local arts programming, but we’re so glad it does and encourage everyone to come out on Aug. 26 to be a part of this very special event,” she said.
The colored powder is cornstarch-based, non-toxic and non-allergenic. The course begins at Riverside Park, heads up State Street, stretches along Main Street to the UMPI campus and loops back to Riverside Park.
“We’re very excited to celebrate the arts with our community for five years in a row with this special event and are packing in lots of fun, arts-focused activities before, during and after the 5K, including face painting and a kids’ art project,” said Kim Guerrette-Michaud, event co-director and Wintergreen Arts Center board member. “We are incredibly grateful for all the community support we receive for this fun and family friendly event so that we can continue bringing high quality arts programming to our community.”
Funding from this year’s event will help to support scholarships and the after-school program at Wintergreen Arts Center as well as UMPI’s Empty Bowls benefit and Visiting Artist Program.
New this year, the course will feature seven color stations instead of six. Local businesses sponsor the color stations, which are staffed with volunteers dressed to reflect specific themes.
At a designated time near the end of the event, all participants and organizers will be invited to take part in a giant color throw.
Because people have come in costume for past Color PI 5K events, organizers will host a best costume contest, and have planned face painting, a children’s art project and other activities. Bikes and pets will not be allowed.
The event is not timed, so race participants will go at their own pace. Runners should wear white and may also want to wear protective eyewear.
The registration fee is $40 for adults and free to children under 10, and includes a T-shirt for the first 100 paid registrants and a color packet. Check-in is Friday, Aug. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Forum, and Saturday, Aug. 26, at Riverside Park.
Register at www.umpi.edu/colorpresqueisle5k or in person at Wintergreen Arts Center in Presque Isle. For more information, contact Rachel Rice at umpi@maine.edu or the Wintergreen Arts Center at wintergreenarts@gmail.com or 762-3576.
