The 2024 Rotary of Arlington Heights Santa Run in its 17th year broke a record with 2,012 registrants bringing holiday cheer and Santa Claus flair to downtown Arlington Heights on Dec. 7 on a sunny Saturday morning at about 30 degrees.
The motto was running for a “Cause as a Claus!” Participants of the 5K walk/run received red running suits with a Santa hat and plushy white beard. There was also the one-mile option.
Children taking part in the Reindeer Dash wore festive clothing and antler accessories with many sporting the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer red nose.
Check-in took place inside the historic Metropolis Performing Arts Centre and the start for the Reindeer Dash and Rotary Santa Run began on Campbell Street. This year’s medal swag had a green ribbon.
Ron Gerlach, president of the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, said, “The Rotary Club of Arlington Heights takes great pride in the Santa Run as a great way to start the holidays and get into the holiday spirit.
“All proceeds go toward serving causes both in the Arlington Heights community and around the world.
“Our Rotary Club could not deliver this event without the tremendous support of the local business community and residents who make our Santa Run part of their holiday tradition.”
Gerlach added that it takes more than 100 volunteers, “to make the Santa Run possible.
Almost all of our (Rotary) Club members are involved in some way,” Gerlach said, including, “the Rolling Meadows Interact Club, Boy Scouts, local veterans, volunteers and family and friends all help to make the annual Santa Run possible.
“So to all of the volunteers, a big Rotary thank you,” Gerlach said.
“We couldn’t do it without you.”
Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas Hayes is a repeat Santa Run participant and donned the Rotary Santa Run red suit. Hayes took part in the 5K and wore bib #781.
Hayes told Pioneer Press, “This is probably my favorite event of all the things I get to do as mayor.
“I really enjoy it, we’ve got a beautiful day today, everybody’s in the holiday spirit.”
Hayes said the Rotary Santa Run helps to instill the importance of good health and fitness plus, “family activities, outdoor activities, anything that brings the community together so it’s just an important event for a lot of reasons and it’s sponsored by the Rotary Club who does great work for people around the world in need.”
At the start line right before people started the Santa run/walk Hayes told the audience that Arlington Heights is, “a wonderful community, a place that I like to call the largest small town in America.
“We’ve got a lot to be thankful for in this village.”
Santa and Mrs. Claus plus the green Grinch from the book and movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” were present to take photos with children and family and to cheer on participants.
During the Reindeer Dash, children were encouraged by Reindeer Dash Coordinator Millie Palmer of Arlington Heights to sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
“It’s the most adorable part of the year,” Palmer said about the Arlington Heights tradition.
Cora Smith, 6, a kindergartner and her brother Van Smith, 3, of Arlington Heights, had painted red noses and were accompanied by their parents Blake and Teague Smith.
Blake Smith said the Rotary Santa Run is a, “super cute event.”
Teague Smith said about kindness as a holiday wish and for every day, “It’s the number one thing.”
Team Captain Matthew M. Hahn of Arlington Heights, a deacon at Saint James Parish of Arlington Heights, was proud of the church’s team of 112 participants running or walking for, “a good cause.”
The first 5K finisher to cross the finish line of the bib-chipped race was Gabriel Gronski of Mount Prospect, Bib #488 with a time of 16:35.2.
Gronski, a sophomore at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights who participates in @HerseyHuskies cross country and track at school, said the race course was, “pretty good,” with, “a little bit of hills up and down but felt good.
“It was a pretty fast course, I’d say,” Gronski said.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
