About 110 walkers and runners dressed as various Christmas characters and in holiday attire participated in Sunday's Jingle Dash Fun Walk Run.
Due to the pandemic, organizers Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Jefferson City changed this year's fourth annual fundraiser from a competitive 5K race to a fun walk/run that took participants on a stroll through the Capital City Festival of Lights inside Binder Park.
Among the hundreds of lighted displays in this year's Festival of Lights is a tunnel of lights that vehicles drive through when going through the event. The lights, like some others in the Festival of Lights, is coordinated to music.
Amanda Schreiber, a fourth-grade teacher at Lawson Elementary School, was walking with her father and a friend, saying she came out to support BBBS. She said it's nice to see the "Bigs" in the schools helping out the children they mentor, known as "Littles." The Bigs, however, are missed this year. Because of the pandemic, they don't go into the schools.
"Just supporting them, and getting to see the awesome lights at the same time is a win-win situation," she said.
Participants paid a $25 entry fee and were given a Jingle Dash T-shirt and snacks. Some participants also solicited sponsorships for the event.
The end-of-the-year fundraiser helps raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters for the enrollment, support and matching of Big and Littles in the mentorship program, which serves all of Cole County.
"This year has been so unique and difficult to do fundraisers, so we're really excited about our turnout tonight people getting outside and enjoying the holiday season," local BBBS Director Lee Knernschield said.
She hopes the event will raise around $5,000.
Knernschield said BBBS is always seeking mentors.
"If anyone would be interested in helping just to spend an hour a week with a child, we have got children who are waiting, that are looking for a friend just to spend some extra time with them," she said.