On May 4, hundreds of runners and walkers will take to the streets of Gulfport in celebration of Peace, Love & Goodwill at the 4th annual Hippie Dash. Presented by Goodwill-Suncoast and USI, the event includes an 8K and a 5K run, a Flower Child Fun Run for little hippies, and a laid-back one-mile Walk, Woof & Roll for walkers, dogs and strollers. The event will also feature dozens of vintage VWs – from bugs to campers – to add to the 1960s vibe.
This year’s Hippie Dash is going down Saturday, May 4, beginning at 7:45 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 Grown-Up Hippie 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! Mash-up hippie/Star Wars costumes are encouraged! A free yoga session will be held on the beach prior to the race beginning at 6:30 a.m. After the race, participants can hang out in the Gulfport Casino, enjoy free munchies and beer, view the vintage VWs on display, enjoy free face-painting and wander through Gulfport’s outta sight downtown!
High-achieving hippies will be stoked to know the 8K and 5K runs are chip-timed events on certified courses. All participants will receive a fab T-shirt and a super-cool medal. Award medals will be given to the first-, second-, and third-place finishers in each age group of the 8K and 5K. If runners can only be there in spirit, there is a “run from home” option for the event.
Come together right now! Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Gulfport/HippieDash
Groovy businesses in the community are sponsoring this year’s event. USI is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Publix Super Markets Charities, Hawkins Construction, Inc., Lokey Automotive Group, Piedmont Companies, Inc., Tampa Bay Times, Doubletake Marketing & PR and the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center Foundation.
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. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training and job placement for people with disabilities, a children’s literacy program, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3)