Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Jingle Bells Will Jangle In Shore Before Parade
By Harry Saltzgaver
Executive Editor
For most, an opportunity to run in front of a crowd of 40,000 or 50,000 people comes once in a lifetime, if at all.
But 500 people will get that chance next month right here in Belmont Shore. It’s the Jingle Bell Jaunt, and it will take place just before the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on Dec. 5.
Runners, with many likely to be in costume, will make the one-mile circuit around Second Street in the Shore. But the 5:15 p.m. start time for the first race, many of the 50,000 or so spectators expected for the parade already will be lining the street.
“This will be the entertainment, the parade before the parade,” said Simon Grieve, publisher of Gazette Newspapers. “It’s made to order —more people will see you run than if you participated in a marathon.
“We’re putting the emphasis on fun. If you want to know your time for the mile, you’ll have to time yourself. But you’ll have a great time, and you’ll be doing it for a good cause. There’s not a whole lot more Christmasy than that.”
The Grunion Gazette, through its nonprofit Hearts For Long Beach Foundation, is presenting the event. All the money raised will go to health and fitness programs at the Long Beach Education Foundation. That is, all but $500, which will be set aside to begin the annual Melody Ross Memorial Scholarship in remembrance of the teen killed Oct. 30 after a Wilson High School football game.
The Belmont Shore Business Association, which puts on the Christmas Parade, is a primary sponsor of the Jingle Bell Jaunt. The Port of Long Beach also has signed on, and more sponsors are expected.
“We really do want to make this all about fun,” said Blair Cohn, who is acting as race coordinator. “I want to see Christmas trees running down Second Street, snowmen, elves, reindeer, everything. Everyone is in a holiday spirit any way, and this will just build on that atmosphere.”
In addition to the traditional T-shirt sporting the Jaunt logo, each runner will receive a set of jingle bells to put on their shoes.
The anticipation of a crowd of runners jingling down the street should keep spectators in their seats.
“Can you imagine 400 or 500 people all running with jingle bells on at the same time?” Grieve said. “I can’t wait.”
There will be prizes for the best costumes as well as the more traditional first, second and third finishers.
After the main race, there will be a kids’ Jaunt for youngsters 5 through 12 (children 5-7 must be accompanied around the course by a parent, but the parent doesn’t have to pay). Just to make sure they have an incentive to run, the youngsters will be chasing the Jolly Old Elf himself.
“Our whole concept is to add a little more fun to Second Street on parade night and raise some money for a good cause at the same time,” Grieve said. “We hope and expect runners to stick around for the parade, and people who have come to the parade for years to participate in the run.”
Entry will be limited to the first 500 who sign up. If the race goes well, that limit might be increased in future years, Grieve said.
Sign-ups are available only online. Cost is $25 for everyone who registers before 9 a.m. on Nov. 30, then $35 until noon, Dec. 3, if there still is room available. Children cost the same as adults.
In order to sign up, go to www.gazettes.com and click on the Jingle Bell Jaunt logo with the happy reindeer. That will take you to a page with all the information and the application form.
Get ready to jingle.
But 500 people will get that chance next month right here in Belmont Shore. It’s the Jingle Bell Jaunt, and it will take place just before the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on Dec. 5.
Runners, with many likely to be in costume, will make the one-mile circuit around Second Street in the Shore. But the 5:15 p.m. start time for the first race, many of the 50,000 or so spectators expected for the parade already will be lining the street.
“This will be the entertainment, the parade before the parade,” said Simon Grieve, publisher of Gazette Newspapers. “It’s made to order —more people will see you run than if you participated in a marathon.
“We’re putting the emphasis on fun. If you want to know your time for the mile, you’ll have to time yourself. But you’ll have a great time, and you’ll be doing it for a good cause. There’s not a whole lot more Christmasy than that.”
The Grunion Gazette, through its nonprofit Hearts For Long Beach Foundation, is presenting the event. All the money raised will go to health and fitness programs at the Long Beach Education Foundation. That is, all but $500, which will be set aside to begin the annual Melody Ross Memorial Scholarship in remembrance of the teen killed Oct. 30 after a Wilson High School football game.
The Belmont Shore Business Association, which puts on the Christmas Parade, is a primary sponsor of the Jingle Bell Jaunt. The Port of Long Beach also has signed on, and more sponsors are expected.
“We really do want to make this all about fun,” said Blair Cohn, who is acting as race coordinator. “I want to see Christmas trees running down Second Street, snowmen, elves, reindeer, everything. Everyone is in a holiday spirit any way, and this will just build on that atmosphere.”
In addition to the traditional T-shirt sporting the Jaunt logo, each runner will receive a set of jingle bells to put on their shoes.
The anticipation of a crowd of runners jingling down the street should keep spectators in their seats.
“Can you imagine 400 or 500 people all running with jingle bells on at the same time?” Grieve said. “I can’t wait.”
There will be prizes for the best costumes as well as the more traditional first, second and third finishers.
After the main race, there will be a kids’ Jaunt for youngsters 5 through 12 (children 5-7 must be accompanied around the course by a parent, but the parent doesn’t have to pay). Just to make sure they have an incentive to run, the youngsters will be chasing the Jolly Old Elf himself.
“Our whole concept is to add a little more fun to Second Street on parade night and raise some money for a good cause at the same time,” Grieve said. “We hope and expect runners to stick around for the parade, and people who have come to the parade for years to participate in the run.”
Entry will be limited to the first 500 who sign up. If the race goes well, that limit might be increased in future years, Grieve said.
Sign-ups are available only online. Cost is $25 for everyone who registers before 9 a.m. on Nov. 30, then $35 until noon, Dec. 3, if there still is room available. Children cost the same as adults.
In order to sign up, go to www.gazettes.com and click on the Jingle Bell Jaunt logo with the happy reindeer. That will take you to a page with all the information and the application form.
Get ready to jingle.
 |
||
| Hearing Assistance Dogs Come In All Sizes, Including Chihuahuas |
