In 1969, Woodstock was an iconic cultural event billed as 3 Days of Peace & Music. Goodwill-Suncoast and Wells Fargo are bringing back some of that groovy vibe in the form of the Hippie Dash 5K, 3.1 Miles of Peace, Love & Goodwill. The event includes a Flower Child Fun Run for little hippies, and a laid-back one-mile Walk, Woof & Roll for walkers, dogs and strollers. The inaugural 2016 Hippie Dash was a psychedelic success, bringing more than 800 hippies to downtown Gulfport!
This year’s Hippie Dash is going down Saturday, April 1, beginning at 8 a.m. The groove begins in the heart of Gulfport’s super funky downtown waterfront district at 5500 Shore Boulevard South. A DJ will spin tunes from the counterculture era, and all runners are encouraged to wear their most far-out threads for a chance to win Best Dressed Dude, Best Dressed Dudette and Best Dressed Flower Child awards. Participants in the Walk, Woof & Roll can dress their dogs up for a chance at a pooch prize too! After the race, participants can hang out in the Gulfport Casino, enjoy free munchies and beer, and wander through Gulfport’s outta sight downtown!
Time is an illusion, but the 5K is a chip-timed event on a certified course. All participants will receive a fab T-shirt and a super-cool medal. Awards will be given to the first place finishers in each age group. If runners can only be there in spirit, there are virtual options for each race.
Come together right now! Register here: www.racersignup.com/hippie-dash
Groovy businesses in the community are sponsoring this year’s event. Wells Fargo is the presenting sponsor. Other far out sponsors include the Tampa Bay Times, Spectrum, Hawkins Construction, Inc., St. Anthony’s Triathlon, Winters & Yonker, Clear Channel Outdoor, Outfront Media, BayCare, Canteen and City of Gulfport.
All proceeds benefit Goodwill’s programs for adults with disabilities and for people with other barriers to self-sufficiency. Can you dig it?
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. Founded in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1954, Goodwill-Suncoast is one of the largest and most effective Goodwill organizations in the world. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.