SPOKANE, WA—Check-In for this Sunday’s 37th annual Lilac Bloomsday Run has begun at the Spokane Convention Center, and volunteers are busy handing out packets and signing up late registrants. Check-in and late registration are available on Friday, May 3rd, from 11:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, May 4th from 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Race entry is not available on Sunday, May 5th, although out-of-town runners who have already entered can pick up their packets between 6:30 and 9:00 a.m. that day.
“The most common question we get is, ‘Can someone else pick up my packet for me?’” said Bloomsday Race Director Don Kardong. “The answer is yes, as long as the person picking up knows the exact name used to register, age and date of birth.”
Along with Check-In, the Bloomsday Trade Show is in full swing, with a variety of sports, fitness, and general interest exhibitors on site. Bloomsday sponsors at the show will be distributing the eight different “character trading cards” produced this year. The Trade Show is open during the same hours as Check-In.
Security for this year’s Bloomsday includes restricted access to the starting area for registered runners only, as well as a request that people not bring backpacks. Certain types of fanny packs are acceptable, and full details are listed in the Latest News section of the Bloomsday website. Anyone riding the STA shuttle should leave backpacks and gear bags with their vehicles at the shuttle lots (except Corporate Cup participants, who have special instructions for gear bags).
As Sunday morning approaches, Bloomsday has announced that participants will once again be treated to a live starting line performance by stellar vocalist John Keston of Minnesota, who will sing “O, Canada,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The start line vocals will be a warm-up for a full slate of entertainment along the Bloomsday course, as nearly 30 performers are scheduled for race day. This year’s on-course entertainment includes music to please a variety of tastes, including rock, pop, punk, blues, bluegrass, ska, oldies, accordion and Christian.
Bloomsday entrants will be able to vote for their favorite performers again this year by logging on to www.bloomsdayrun.org after the race, and prizes of $500, $300, and $150 will be awarded to the winning entertainers. A full listing of this year’s performers is on Bloomsday’s website by clicking Race Information, then On-Course Entertainment on the drop-down menu.
Streets in downtown Spokane will begin to close around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday. Additional details about road closures are on the Bloomsday website by clicking the Race Information button and choosing Road Closures on the drop-down menu.
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