It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to cancel our upcoming Monster Dash 5K. We have been keeping a close eye on rising COVID-19 numbers and have also recently experienced the same staff shortages that many local businesses are currently facing. These two challenges would make it very difficult for us to bring the Monster Dash event to life as the fun and safe event we want it to be. If you have already registered, we will be issuing you a refund very soon. We hope to make the Monster Dash a reality in a future year as many people were very excited for this event. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these challenging times together as a community.
October 15, 2021 ~ 5:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.
Join us at sunset for 5K run, walk, or roll along the Lower Yahara River Trail and through our haunted prairie and forest. CAUTION! Monsters may be lurking along the trail. If you survive, your reward will be a bonfire with s'mores, beverages, and food available for purchase from a local brewery and the Vengan Pa’Ka food truck. Once the sun has set, snuttle up for an outdoor screenign of the movie Beetlejuicet (bring blankets or chairs to sit on and dress for the weather).
Costumes are heavily encouraged for this event! Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the race check in and the race starts at 6:00 p.m. This is a fun-run style event so the race is not timed.
Click to View Monster Dash Flier
Early bird registration costs $20 and includes access to the 5K, bonfire, and admission to the outdoor movie. Registration fee will increase to $30 after September 1st. Registration fees help support youth education and outdoor recration programs at the Lussier Family Heritage Center, a Dane County Parks facility.
The race will begin and end at the Lussier Family Heritage Center (3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison). Parking is available at the Heritage Center or across Lake Farm Road in the Capital City & Lower Yahara River Trailhead parking lot.
The route travels along the paved Lower Yahara River Trail and then along the forest trails at William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park. These trails are fairly wide and hard packed dirt so a stroller or wheelchair should be able to navigate them.
The Monster Dash 5K is open to all ages, however there will be monsters lurking along the race route so it might not be suitable for all ages. Our monsters will be warned to hang back when people with strollers or very young kids are passing by but they will still be visible so please use your best judgement.
If your infant or toddler (0-3 years old) will be in a stroller or pulled in a wagon they ‘run’ for free and you do not need to register them. Children age 8 and under that are participating with an adult that is registered for the race also ‘run’ for free and do not need to register online. A legal guardian will need to register them and sign a waiver when they arrive for the race.
Not into thrills and chills? Skip the haunted forest and join us at 7:30 p.m. for the outdoor movie, Beetlejuice! ($10 per person suggested donation if you are attending just the movie).
