Grinch-Themed Santa Fun Run, Walk Coming to Joliet

JOLIET, IL — There will not be a downtown Joliet holiday parade in late November because of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, but the Joliet Chamber of Commerce has come up with an alternative event that allows for proper social distancing and lets participants have a great time.

The Joliet Chamber is presenting its first-ever Santa Fun Run & Walk. The 5K race will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the downtown Van Buren Plaza. The event will include an appearance from The Grinch, and the Chamber will be awarding prizes for the best costumes of participants.

"We felt there needed to be something upbeat and positive since so many holiday events have been canceled," Joliet Chamber of Commerce President Jen Howard told Joliet Patch on Wednesday.

"It's a 5K run or walk and you get a Santa hat and a Santa gaitor mask," Howard said. "There will be prizes for best costumes so we want people to dress festive. We have a Grinch that will run along."

The event will begin and end at the Van Buren Plaza across the street from the Rialto Square Theatre. Runners and walkers will head north of the downtown and go into the Iron Works Historical Site near Columbia Street.

According to the Joliet Chamber flier, registration is $30 for adults and $20 for children 12 and younger. Adult groups of 10 or more get a discount of $27 per person and groups of 10 or more kids are $17 each.

Participants will pick up their race packets starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the event. The presenting sponsor is the Joliet City Center Partnership.

For a first-time event, Howard said she is hoping to draw at least 300 participants. Howard stressed that the event is open for residents and non-residents. In other words, you don't have to live in Joliet to be in the Grinch fun run.

For details on registration as well as business sponsorships, visit the Joliet Chamber website here.