The family fun of Rainbow Run is back in Wanaka this month and organisers are hoping for an even bigger turnout this year.

Sport Central’s Wanaka based community sports advisor Tiny Carruthers said the Rainbow Run on Saturday, October 10 will be one of the first major events of the season.

“This fun family event is the perfect way to kick start a season of sporting events,” he said. 

“Many of last year’s entrants wore fancy dress which added to the occasion [and] the fire brigade will be there to give participants a light spray to send them on their way; this allows even more colour to stick and create a greater rainbow effect.”

Participants run or walk 5km while being sprayed by a rainbow of colour. The powder used is a food grade product so it washes off clothes and bodies easily.

The race starts and finishes at the Upper Clutha Rugby Clubrooms on Wanaka’s showgrounds and the course follows a looping circuit through five colour stations, around the showgrounds and Pembroke Park. The course is flat and suitable for buggies but scooters, bikes and dogs are not permitted.

Spot prizes will be given out on the day and money raised from this event goes to ‘Sporting Chance’, Sports Otago’s programme which helps give children from disadvantaged circumstances the opportunity to participate in sport. 

Major sponsor Night ‘n’ Day continues its support of the series. It’s joined this year by station sponsors Alpine Motel, Flooring Xtra, Jennian Homes and the Queenstown Lakes District Council. 

Dunedin was to host the first Rainbow Run event this season but COVID-19 restrictions meant it had to be postponed until November.

“It’s been very difficult for event organisers to commit to any sort of plan,” Tiny said, but Sport Central, part of Sport Otago, has committed to hosting the Night ‘n’ Day Rainbow Run series. 

Wanaka’s Rainbow Run starts on Saturday 10 October at 11:00am and finishes at 1:00pm. Tickets, available online from Sport Otago here, are $10 per person and a discount is offered for families of two adults and two children. Any runners under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by an adult and children under the age of two are free.

PHOTO: Supplied