Light The Way 5k To Benefit Keep Sevier Beautiful & Share It Forward

Participants in the Light the Way 5K Walk/Run will see Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival in a new light – actually four million lights – as the theme park hosts this special event for a fourth year on Nov. 13 beginning at 11 p.m.

“The beauty of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival combined with the challenge of a course that only a theme park can provide makes our Light the Way 5K a one-of-a-kind event for runners and walkers,” said Carol Agee, Dollywood’s Community Affairs and Philanthropy Manager. “But most importantly, this event will help us provide two very worthwhile non-profit organizations with financial assistance just before the holidays.”

Proceeds from the event benefit Keep Sevier Beautiful and the Share It Forward program at Dollywood. Keep Sevier Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is a volunteer-based organization that focuses on waste reduction/recycling, litter prevention and beautifying public spaces through education and community based programs. The organization’s goal is to protect the natural beauty of the area that millions of visitors come to see each year. Share It Forward is a non-profit charity established for the purpose of raising and using funds to assist The Dollywood Company employees and their families in times of need.

Light the Way 5K participants are treated to a unique course decorated by the park’s four million Christmas lights, beginning their journey at Dollywood’s groups’ entrance, traversing through the parking lot and then winding through the theme park.

The race will be chip timed and managed by Scenic City Multi-Sports, which also will be offering free photos to all participants to download, tweet and share on Facebook. Awards will be presented to the top three overall for male and female participants. The top three finalists in each age division receive hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments custom-made for the event by Dollywood’s master glassblower. The event also includes door prizes and refreshments.

Register online for the Light the Way 5k or on race day from 8–10:30 p.m. at Dollywood’s front gate. Registration after Oct. 15, 2015 and race day fee is $35.

For more information, call (865) 850-4098 or visit www.lighttheway5k.net