STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Mud in your eye!
That’s the rallying cry of the 8th annual Arbor Day and Mud Run slated for Saturday, May 12.
The City of Hailey will hold its annual Arbor Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hop Porter Park.
Smokey the Bear will be in attendance. There’ll be free tree seedlings, a Kids Bouncy Forest, food, drinks and craft booths.
The Mud Run involves an obstacle course that includes walking a plank, ascending a net, dancing through tires and, of course, trying to wade through gloppy mud.
Participants will be hosed down at the end. They’re advised not to sear flip flops since they can sink in the mud never to be found again.
Last year’s was cancelled because Hailey had been inundated with mud, thanks to record breaking snow melt that flooded neighborhoods.
Live music will start at 12:30 p.m. continuing through 1:30 and the Mud Run at 1:30 p.m.
Mudders can pre-register at BCRD or Hailey City Hall. Or, sign up at the event.
NAMI will be hosting its annual bike ride “Biking for Mental Wellness, a Stigma Free Ride” that Saturday and is encouraging participants to stop by the park on their ride.
Bicyclists should check in at BCRD at Hailey’s Community campus or the YMCA in Ketchum between 9 and 11 a.m. and proceed along the bike path to the event’s end at St. Luke’s Wood River south of Ketchum.
Food trucks and other vendors will be on the scene from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Costumes are encouraged and prizes, including staycations in Stanley, Boise and Sun Valley, will be awarded for the largest group participating, the most creative and the best-themed team.
For information about the bicycle ride go to https://nami-wrv.org/bike/
For information about Arbor Fest or the Mud Run, call The Chamber at 208-788-3484 or Stephanie Cook at Hailey City Hall at 208-788-4221.