The University and the Wintergreen Arts Center teamed up to present the Fourth Annual Color Presque Isle 5K, where participants dressed in white and were showered with colored powder throughout the course. The Aug. 27 event served as a benefit for arts programming in downtown Presque Isle.
This year’s Color Presque Isle 5K welcomed more than 300 participants, and raised about $12,000 for downtown arts programming.
Similar to other runs that have happened across the nation, this event involved volunteers dropping nontoxic colored powder on participants at various spots throughout the course, which began at Riverside Park and looped around to the UMPI campus and back. This year’s route included a stretch along Main St. from State St. to the UMPI campus.
Funding from this year’s event will help to support scholarships and the after school program at Wintergreen Arts Center as well as UMPI’s Empty Bowls benefit and Visiting Artist Program.
This year’s course featured six color stations, sponsored by local businesses and staffed with teams of volunteers dressed up to reflect specific themes. At the finish line, refreshments and water provided by TAMC awaited participants. At a designated time near the end of the event, all participants and organizers were invited to take part in a giant color throw.
To add to the festivities, during and after the event there were several activities available for participants and those cheering on 5Kers, including face painting, a community mural and KTC’s Brain Freeze Ice Cream Truck.
For photos from this year’s event, visit www.umpi.edu/colorpresqueisle5k.
