Santa Hat Hustle Brings Holiday Cheer to Royal Oak

Royal Oak has a brand-new holiday tradition, the 1st Annual Santa Hat Hustle, part of the Pure Michigan Fitness Series.

It will be held in downtown Royal Oak Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland and Macomb Counties and Sergeant Santa, a charity of WWJ Newsradio 950 and the Detroit Police Department. Participants and spectators are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys to support the charities’ missions to provide Christmas gifts to those who can’t afford them.

Sign up here for the run, walk and dash events, which include:

• 5K Run - USATF-Certified & Timed ($35 / $45)
• 5 K Walk ($35 / $45)
• 1 Mile Santa Stroll ($25)
• 1/4 Mile Kids Donner Dash (Free w/ Registration)

Other activities include:

• Pictures with Santa & Santa’s Friends
• Help decorate a Christmas tree that will be donated to a local family
• Best Holiday Costume Contests
• Christmas Caroling
• Face Painting & Kids Activities
• Post-Run Warm-Up Party & More

Here’s the schedule:

• 8:30 a.m.: 5K run and 5K Walk
• 8:45 a.m.: 1-mile Santa Stroll
• 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Post-race warm-up party
• 9:30 am.: Quarter mile Kids Donner Dash
• 1-6 p.m.: Santa Pub Crawl

The event is for all those interested in challenging themselves for either a 5K (3.1 miles) run or for those interested in a more casual 1-mile family stroll.This event is open to all ages and abilities. Downtown Royal Oak retailers and shops will be spreading their own holiday cheer. All downtown restaurants and retailers will be ready to help you fuel up and get your holiday shopping complete. Be sure to bring your holiday shopping list with you and gear up to do the “shopping hustle.”

The event is endorsed by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.

_____

Photo via Pure Michigan