Posted on: Saturday, December 15, 2001

Jingle Bell Run provides burst of Christmas cheer

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

It's that time of year again. Time to put on your holiday hat and sneakers and head down to King and Alapai streets tonight for the 17th annual Jingle Bell Run.

The popular just-for-fun event, sponsored by The Honolulu Advertiser, benefits Special Olympics Hawaii and the homeless and needy.

Shirlie Katzenberger, Jingle Bell committee chairman, said that with the military deployments and economic downturn, organizers aren't certain whether participation will reach the usual level of 2,500 people, but they are hoping.

"We just want everyone to come out and have a really good time," she said.

The run incorporates a route that takes in the downtown Christmas lights and holiday singing groups with names like Reindeer-a-licous and The Snowflakes, and includes canine participants in costume and several familiar business mascots like Meadow Gold's Lani Moo and the Hungry Lion's hungry lion.

The run begins at 6 p.m. and concludes with a 7 p.m. party at Kapono's At The Pier in Aloha Tower Marketplace. Honolulu police officers will enforce traffic controls along the route.

So, running shoes in the laundry? No problem. There really isn't that much running required. This is a just a chance to get silly, get a little exercise and see the lights.

Forget to register? Also not a problem, said Katzenberger, creative director for market development for The Advertiser.

Last-minute registration will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Advertiser building, 605 Kapiolani Blvd. The entry fee is $30 for adults, $23 per person for groups of four or more, and $10 for children 12 and younger.

"We might not be able to guarantee all last-minute entries exactly the right sized T-shirt," Katzenberger said. "But we'll find them a T-shirt."