Color Me Mutt 5K Color Run and Pet Parade is Geared to Pet Lovers

Pets Without Parents, Sevierville’s no-kill animal shelter, and PARC Foundation, the charitable arm of NASCAR SpeedPark Smoky Mountains, are teaming up to host the Color Me Mutt 5K Color Run and Pet Parade on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at 7:30 a.m. at NASCAR SpeedPark.

Pet lovers, as well as running enthusiasts, are invited to participate along with their dogs. All proceeds raised from the event will return to the Sevier County community through funding the no-kill shelter and the charitable needs met by PARC Foundation’s work.

In addition to the 3.1-mile course, the Color Me Mutt features a Pet Parade at 9:15 a.m., where owners and their pets can continue the day’s theme by showing off their “true colors.” Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Rough ’n Tough, Miss Priss, Spit ’N Polish (best groomed), Twinkies (best owner/pet lookalike) and Best Dog Personality. A Best of Show will be awarded to one of the five winners.

The color run and pet parade are the kickoff to a day of family-friendly fun. All 5K participants will receive unlimited access to NASCAR SpeedPark’s 8 go-kart tracks, family and kids’ rides, mini golf and rock wall for a day of play. Plus, there will be a morning Marketplace filled with local businesses, crafters and artisans, many with pet-themed products, open to the community.

“We are excited to host our first color run that includes dogs and hope this event will bring out all of our pet friends and their parents from the surrounding communities,” said Lory Souders, CEO of Pets Without Parents.

What is a Color Run? A color run is a race event where participants are showered with non-toxic, washable, multi-colored dyes at the start of the race creating a rainbow of runners and pets.

Race participants toss colored powder in the air at a color run in Nashville. Photo Courtesy of Denise Mattox (Nashville Fall Color Run) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)], via Flickr

“Supporting this Run/Walk will not only help our homeless pets, but it is also a good way to support community organizations that help those in need in the Smoky Mountain region,” added Bob Baldwin, executive director of PARC Foundation.

Pets Without Parents is renovating a former house into a new shelter that will soon be ready to house cats and dogs that are looking for a forever home. PARC Foundation supports various nonprofits in the Sevier County community that have similar missions of nurturing children and families through heart, mind, body and spirit.

To register for either the 5K Color Run or Pet Parade, or to become a sponsor, visit the race website at www.colormemutt.com. The entry fee is $30 for the 5K through April 15, and $40 until the day of the race when the registration fee is $50. For those interested only in the Pet Parade, registration begins at 9 a.m. and is $10, $15 on the day of the parade.

All 5K Color Run participants will receive a t-shirt, commemorative pet charm, one packet of color and an unlimited ride wristband to NASCAR SpeedPark.