Grinnell Games schedule packed with family-friendly fun, some streets closed for festivities

Grinnell Games is an action-packed weekend of events designed for all ages and athletic abilities. This year’s event features a 5k and half marathon, three on three basketball, sand volleyball, UV Splash 5k Run/bike, the Warrior Run and much more!

“Our big new event this year is the UV Splash Color Dash, which is a nighttime fun run for all ages,” said Emily Counts with the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival. “Kids and adults of all ages will have a blast getting covered in colorful powder during the dash, which will end with a very fun after party featuring live music from Tang!”

Another family-friendly event that is back on the schedule for a second year is the Lil’ Warrior Run, a fun run for kids that will take place on Saturday, June 11, at 10:30 a.m. following the 5K and half marathon races. The fun run will include fun obstacles such as a tunnel crawl, hay bale hurdle, and a ladder step element.

“More than 80 kids entered the Lil’ Warrior Run last year, and we expect it to grow even larger this year,” Counts said. “The kids enjoyed the chance to try out some obstacles and have their time to shine during the Grinnell Games activities.”

The Lil’ Warrior Run is free for children to participate in. Families will also discover extra fun downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 where there will be inflatables, face painting and other family fun activities. There will be a $5 wristband that will allow kids access to all of the kid activities for the day, and all paid Grinnell Games participants will receive one free wristband with their registration.

The schedule for Grinnell Games weekend includes:

Saturday, June 11

• 5K and half marathon races at 8 a.m. beginning and ending downtown, near the intersection of Main St. and Fourth Ave.
• Free kid activities downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Broad Street north of Fourth Ave.
• Lil’ Warrior Run at 10:30 a.m. near the intersection of 4^th Ave. and Broad St.
• Three on three basketball tournament at 11 a.m. on Broad St. near Wells Fargo
• Sand volleyball tournament at 1 p.m. near the intersection of Broad St. and Fourth Ave.
• Bags tournament at 1 p.m. on Fourth Ave. between Broad & Park St.  
• The Amazing Chase scavenger hunt at 4 p.m. beginning and ending at the Grinnell College Joe Rosenfield Center
• UV Splash Color Dash 5K run/bike event at 9:30 p.m. beginning and ending in front of the Joe Rosenfield Center at Grinnell College

Sunday, June 12

• 5K Warrior Run at 10 a.m. at Ahrens Park

Those interested in participating in a Grinnell Games event may register at www.grinnellgames.com. The website includes a full schedule and details regarding each event. Registration for the volleyball and basketball team events closes at midnight Sunday, June 5, to allow time to prepare tournament brackets. The remainder of the weekend’s events can be entered up until they begin, although entry fees do increase for day-of registration.

Many volunteer shifts have yet to be filled, and organizers ask for help from Grinnell residents. Volunteer shifts and duties are posted at www.grinnellgames.com/volunteers for those interested in assisting. There are a variety of shifts available during the weekend, with a large number of volunteers needed Saturday morning during the half marathon and 5K races. All volunteers will receive a free Grinnell Games t-shirt.

Grinnell Games is presented by Grinnell State Bank and supported by Ahrens Park Foundation, Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, Grinnell College, Grinnell Sports Authority, Hy-Vee and Prairie Lakes Church. The event is organized by the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce.

Street Closures

The community should be on alert for some street closures on Saturday, June 11 during Grinnell Games events. The 5K and half marathon race routes will be closed to traffic beginning at 7:30 a.m. The streets will be reopened as soon as possible with all streets opened by 11 a.m. at the latest. Volunteers will be positioned at intersections to assist drivers in finding alternate routes through town that morning and to assist vehicles in crossing the race route when there are gaps between runners.

The half marathon and 5K routes begin near the intersection of Main St. and 4^th Ave. The half marathon route will head south on Main St., turn east on Commercial St., and turn north on Broad St. Runners will follow Broad St. north to 16^th Ave., east on 16^th Ave. to Penrose St. and then connect with the trail on the north side of Ahrens Park. Runners will follow the trail through Ahrens Park and connect back onto Penrose St. heading west on 10^th Ave., then south on Park St., east on 5^th Ave., south on Penrose St., west on 4^th Ave to finish on 4^th Ave. near the intersection with Broad St. The 5K route will affect the same streets in addition to 4^th Ave. from Main St. to Broad St., 11^th Ave. from Broad St. to Park St., and Park St. from 11^th Ave. to 10^th Ave.

To accommodate the afternoon activities, 4^th Ave. from Park St. to Main St., and the half block of Broad St. from 4^th Ave. to Chuong Garden will remain closed following the morning races. Those streets will reopen mid-afternoon as soon as afternoon activities wrap up.

The UV Splash Color Dash 5k Run/Bike Event starts and finishes in front of the Joe Rosenfield Center at Grinnell College, 1115 8th Ave. Eighth Ave. will be closed to traffic from 7 p.m. to midnight on the evening of June 11. The rest of the route will be closed from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. The route circles the northern half of the college campus. It will follow 8th Ave. to East St., head north to 10th Ave., turn west to Park Street, and circle back to 8th Ave.

No streets will be closed for the Warrior Run on Sunday.