Jingle Bell Run-Walk in Mardela Springs
The second annual Jingle Bell Run-Walk in Mardela Springs will be on December 4, starting at 2 pm. Westside Historical Society sponsors this event, an early start to the Annual Christmas Heritage Tour of Mardela Springs (4-7pm).
The Run/Walk route will take participants through and around many of the town’s historic homes, buildings, and sites, perhaps enticing some who do not know about this historic gem in Wicomico’s Westside to return to tour these attractions in both the Westside Historical Society’s museum and historic church and the Adkins Historic & Museum Complex of buildings!
We especially encourage families as well as individuals to enter this fun event! So entrants can choose to either Run or Walk, for the 3K or 5K route! And as a special attraction this year – for the more serious runners! – we are offering a Challenge 6K Run route! The winner of this one earns a trophy! Children under 12 are welcome to run or walk so long as they are accompanied by an adult. And if they choose they might even come dressed as an elf and help serve goodies after the walk/run; all entrants will be given jingle bells to wear on their shirts or shoelaces! They also will be invited to participate in some of the Christmas crafts offered by WHS after the walk. Tee shirts will be given to all participants, but only those who pre-register before Nov. 22 will be guaranteed to get their shirt on the day of the Run-Walk. Medals will be awarded to the top Men and Women Runners.
Refreshments will be served to all entrants at the end of the route, and each individual who crosses the finish line will receive a door prize ticket; drawing for the door prize will be held at 3:45pm. Registration on site opens at 1:00 in front of the Barren Creek Heritage Museum at 413 Main Street, but entrants are encouraged to pre-register by mail or email. Parking will be available near the registration site and on nearby streets, but folks are asked to be careful not to block driveways. The cost of registration before Nov. 30 will be $15 (including tee shirt) or $25 for a family. After Dec. 1 cost will be $20, or $30 for a family.
For those not entered in the Run-Walk, WHS members will be offered the opportunity to learn to make natural greenery Christmas wreaths! The cost of this workshop will be $15 for each wreath made. All wreath materials are provided, but bring your own ribbons or other decorations. Or, for those not running/walking you can sign up for an “Architectural Scavenger Hunt,” a chance to really admire the historic Victorian buildings in Mardela Springs. Crafts and games are free.
To sign up for the Run/Walk, email westsidehistorical@gmail.com, or go to our web page www.barrencreekheritage.org , or to updates on Westside Historical’s Facebook event page “Westside Historical Society Christmas 3K,” and request an application! All proceeds from this event go directly towards Westside Historical Society’s program to bring local history to area school students. WHS is looking for volunteers to help with this fun event; we need registration volunteers, route markers, timers, refreshment servers, and helpers with the games and crafts. If you are interested, contact WHS by email, or call Tami Brown at 443-783-7995.
Following the Jingle Bell Run, entrants are encouraged to take part in the Heritage Tour festivities. Many homes and churches in Mardela Springs will be open and offer entertainment, as will the town’s museums and the Adkins Complex buildings. Santa will be on hand, plenty of fun for the kiddies, and food will be on sale, as will many great items from plenty of vendors. And there may be some surprises as well! There is no entrance fee for any of the Heritage Tour events.