‘I’ve never seen a race like this before’: Carmax Tacky Light Run brings community together
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Thousands of people kicked off the holiday season in style on Saturday with the annual CarMax Tacky Light Run -- a holiday 6K that brings the community together. The course runs through Midlothian's Walton Park neighborhood, so runners can see dozens of homes with tacky lights to get them in the holiday spirit. 8News spoke with two participants -- Katie Jepson and Taylor Johnson -- who drove all the way from Maryland with their almost one-year-old baby to take part in the run. “This has been a long time coming for us, and we're super excited because we've heard so much about this from our friends," Jepson said. "And we love the vibe, we love the tackiness, we love the lights and any excuse to dress up, it's just fantastic.” Many participants embraced the festive spirit, wearing ugly sweaters, Christmas light necklaces and other holiday costumes. “I’ve never seen a race like this before, you know, I think it's really fun," Jepson said. "I love leaning into the tackiness. I think that's always a really fun part of the Christmas season." The event had something for community members of all ages. “You could take your kid with you, that means the three of us can do it together," Jepson said. "So the fact that we could take a stroller on this run really meant it was gonna be a shared experience." For younger participants, there was also a one-mile kids run at Midlothian Mines Park earlier in the day. Food trucks, a costume contest, holiday music, decorations and photo opportunities got everyone in the holiday spirit.
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Thousands of people kicked off the holiday season in style on Saturday with the annual CarMax Tacky Light Run -- a holiday 6K that brings the community together.
The course runs through Midlothian's Walton Park neighborhood, so runners can see dozens of homes with tacky lights to get them in the holiday spirit.
8News spoke with two participants -- Katie Jepson and Taylor Johnson -- who drove all the way from Maryland with their almost one-year-old baby to take part in the run.
“This has been a long time coming for us, and we're super excited because we've heard so much about this from our friends," Jepson said. "And we love the vibe, we love the tackiness, we love the lights and any excuse to dress up, it's just fantastic.”
Many participants embraced the festive spirit, wearing ugly sweaters, Christmas light necklaces and other holiday costumes.
“I’ve never seen a race like this before, you know, I think it's really fun," Jepson said. "I love leaning into the tackiness. I think that's always a really fun part of the Christmas season."
The event had something for community members of all ages.
“You could take your kid with you, that means the three of us can do it together," Jepson said. "So the fact that we could take a stroller on this run really meant it was gonna be a shared experience."
For younger participants, there was also a one-mile kids run at Midlothian Mines Park earlier in the day. Food trucks, a costume contest, holiday music, decorations and photo opportunities got everyone in the holiday spirit.
