By Per Peterson
Not much of a runner but want to be involved and have some fun? The 92nd Annual Box Car Days festival has something just for you.
Among the new features of this year’s four-day extravaganza is something called the “Zero” K Fun Run. That’s right, “zero,” which means there is no running involved. Instead, participants will play various games such as Jenga and the bean bag tournament.
“It was brought to our attention that people have experienced this and said it was a lot of fun,” said Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce Director Lexi Erickson, who has been director since October 2018. “We’re planning to have people come around 3:45 p.m. to register, it’s $20, you get a really sweet shirt and a beer garden ticket,” she said. “We will have a ‘shotgun’ start at 4, and on one side of the beer tent we’re going to write ‘start’ and the other side is going to be ‘finish.’”
The start and finish essentially represent the “track,” but of course, there is no real track.
“It’s something different — you don’t have to run,” Erickson said. “I’m really excited to see people come out. I think people are excited to have more of a reason to come down to the beer tent on Saturday and we’re excited to draw people down there.”
The event is for those 21-and-over. Registration forms for a number of events are available in the Food Pride entrance.
The “Zero” K Fun Run isn’t the only new feature at this year’s Box Car Days:
• From 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Sanford Tracy will open its doors to the public so everyone can get a look at its new emergency room and remodeled lab.
• The Asian Hut food stand will be open all weekend as well and will feature egg rolls, spring rolls, bubble tea smoothies, and chicken teriyaki.
“We’re excited to have them; their food is so good,” Erickson said.
See this week’s Headlight Herald for more on this article.