The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need to make some necessary changes to this year’s Santa Run which have been approved by the Lake County Health Department. The plan to help ensure the safety of everyone includes:
Route change: Start/Finish line at First United Methodist Church, 352 S. Main, Crown Point. The course will be a 1.5 mile out & back course using South Main Street from downtown Crown Point to Franciscan Dr. (Taft Middle School). Given the distance of the course & the staggered start times below, runners will be spread out with distance between them on the course.
Plan: CDC guidelines would be followed requiring masks and maintaining 6 ft of distance and hand sanitizer would be available on all tables.
Packet Pickup: Participants will pick up shirts/packets in pre-assembled bags with their names on them from an unmanned table with masked volunteers supervising 6 ft away.
Starting Waves: Participants will choose in advance between one of four 15- minute blocks of time to start the race. The blocks of time would be 7:30-7:45 am, 7:45–8am. 8-8:15 am, & 8:15-8:30 am.
Each time block would be limited to 25 participants and the participant could start the run at any time within their time frame. This means that there would be NO traditional lining up at the start line for someone to say “Go”. Instead, they would pick up their packets and simply go out on the course within their window of time.
After the Run: After participants finish, 25 at a time will be allowed inside for plated food & pre-packaged food following Health Dept. guidelines. Participants will be limited to 6 people or less seated per table while maintaining a distance of 6ft or more between parties not from the same household. Congregation will not be permitted. Tables & chairs would be regularly wiped down between participant use. Once participants finish with food, they will simply go home.
Outside, Santa will be set up 6 feet away from participants who can take a photo with Santa in the background of the photo. Also,our DJ will be playing Christmas music but not interacting with participants. Having Santa & the DJ outside will spread participants out further. Also, there are no contests where people will gather.
Contact Tracing: The registration lists will be kept for 14 days afterward should the lists be needed to assist with contract tracing. Thank you for your assistance in helping these events move forward.