A 5K, a Halloween Festival, and a Cause Worth Running For Come Together in Downtown Prescott

Costumes, running shoes, and Halloween spirit will take over the Prescott Courthouse Plaza on Saturday, October 24, as Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation hosts its 12th Annual Costumes for Kids 5K & Halloween Fest, a community celebration benefiting children in foster care throughout Yavapai County.

The morning centers around a challenging 5K through beautiful, historic downtown Prescott, but those looking for an easier pace can join the one-mile Fun Run and walk around Courthouse Square. However, the event isn’t all about running. This event has something for everyone. Families and spectators can enjoy carnival-style games and prizes, raffles, music from Fly by Night Entertainment, free food, face painting, and costume contests with prizes for youth, teens, adults, and groups.

“Every year, this event reminds me what can happen when an entire community decides to show up for kids,” said Mona Stephens, Development Director at Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation. “You have people racing through downtown in costumes, kids playing, laughter filling the air, businesses getting involved, and families spending the morning together. Everyone is having fun, but that fun has a positive impact on nearly 300 foster youth in and from our county”

This year’s top sponsor, ZebraScapes, brings a particularly personal connection to that mission with its founders adopting from the foster care system and some employees being impacted by it as well. “Sports had a huge impact on my life, so an event like this really speaks to me,” said Steven Benedict, ZebraScapes’ Marketing Director. “Some of the people on our team have also been impacted by foster care, and I think it’s important for young people to see that where you start does not have to determine where you finish.”

The event is free to attend for all foster families, kinship placements, and youth 16 and under. Sponsors have already paid for the event, so every paid registration carries even more weight, with all proceeds going directly to Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation’s work supporting children in foster care throughout Yavapai County. Those funds help meet critical needs and create opportunities that can make a lasting difference in a child’s life.

Participants who register by October 1 will guarantee their official race-day T-shirt. Online registration will remain open through Monday, October 19, and walk-up registration will also be available beginning at 9 a.m. on race day.

Whether you plan to tackle the 5K, walk the Fun Run, compete for the best costume, bring the kids for games and prizes, or simply spend the morning enjoying Halloween on Courthouse Square, there is a place for you at this year’s event. The only question is what costume you’ll be wearing when you get there.

To learn more or register for the 12th Annual Costumes for Kids 5K & Halloween Fest, visit yavapaicasaforkids.org/annual-5k or call 928-445-0800, extension 4.