The ugly sweater party is no longer simply just a party. It’s a race. On Sunday, Dec. 15, at Alton Baker Park, scores of people adorned in Christmas tree and reindeer-patterned sweaters will toe a starting line and prepare to traverse 3.1 miles of holiday cheer.
The event is the first annual Oregon’s Ugliest Sweater Run, created in September by Derek Zinser, and its goal is to bring people together to enjoy December’s finest traditions, get exercise and promote causes like Toys For Tots, Foster and Adoptive Parent Association of Lane County and Food For Lane County by donating part of the proceeds.
“I love Christmas. I’m a huge Christmas dork,” race director Zinser said. “I thought it’d be cool to combine a sweater party and a run.”
And now his idea is a reality. Over 400 people have already registered, a course is laid out running from Alton Baker to the finish line at Fifth Street Market and local businesses have jumped on board to sponsor the event.
The theme of the event — beyond just ugly sweaters — is the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
“Every quarter mile along the course we’ll have a rest station,” Zinser said. “The first one will have 12 drummers drumming.”
The following ones will continue this theme, with Dari Mart even providing a live cow for the eight maids a milking.
Though the event is a “race,” according to Zinser, the times aren’t important and the race is for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. It’s about having a good time — and doing so while wearing the most hideous sweater you can lay your hands on.
“It can be Christmas themed. It can have a cat on it. Just find an ugly sweater, and then make it uglier,” Zinser said. “The uglier the better.”
And sweater wearing will continue once the participants cross the finish line. After the race there will be live music, eggnog chugging contests, fruitcake eating contests and — of course — an ugly sweater contest. The event will later move down the block to the Tap and Growler, where the merriment will continue.
Zinser’s goal for the event is to have between 1,000 to 1,300 people participate in the run, and despite not quite being there yet, he thinks in the coming days that registrations should pick up considerably.
Parking for the event, located at the EWEB complex, will cost $5 or five cans of food or an unwrapped toy. All will be donated to one of the three charities.
According to Food for Lane County, it was Oregon’s Ugliest Sweater Run that reached out to the organization to see if such an event could benefit it.
“This is TrackTown USA, so there’s a lot of community support for an event like this,” said Kalub Hall, one of the event’s organizers. “It helps promote change in the community.”
Registration before the event is $35 for adults and $45 on the day of the race. For children ages 5 to 14, the event costs $15. For children under age 5, the event is free.
The first flight of runners will hit the course at 10 a.m. and the post-race festivities will commence at 12 p.m.