The Elf Dash

This is a special event for Elves only! Santa will be watching the Dash so please no imposters, we've also been told that The Grinch will be making a special appearance, so get excited!

As a reward for all the Elves "behaving" and completing the Dash, each Elf will receive a special Hot Cocoa Mug, made with love by Mrs. Claus, and access to the super yummy Hot Cocoa and Cookie Bar! 

Are you a driving Elf?? Then you want to know this... The Venice Community Center will have VIE (Very Important Elf) parking just for our Elves!!! The VIE Parking will be at the South lot of the Venice Community Center, closest to Turin Street.  Keep an eye out for the MFRE Elves showing you where to go.  You will also get a VIE Parking Pass at Packet Pick Up that you MUST have to get into the VIE lot.

Once you have parked your sleigh in the VIE lot, there is about a 3-block walk to the start line.  The start line is at the intersection of Harbor Drive and Venice Ave, right by the Post Office.  Please plan on parking early enough to walk over and ready for a prompt 5:45pm start.  There will be a team of DJ Elves at the starting line to make sure all our Elf muscles are warmed up and ready to Dash! Now don't forget, we are the kickoff to the Venice Christmas Parade, so our Elves will have an audience cheering them on along the route BUT that also means all Elves HAVE to cross the finish line within 20 minutes. The last thing we want is to lose an Elf to a rogue parade float, after all, we can't have any Elf injuries before all the toys are made! 

The Finish Line is located next to the Venice Community Center, so don't panic, your sleigh is close by!  

Even though this is NOT a timed event, you will still have a race bib that is required to be worn.  This is how we can tell the REAL Elves from those pesky South Pole imposters!!  Any Elf without an official race bib, will be asked by VPD to leave the course and will be added to the "Naughty List".  You will also get your super special Elf Hat at packet pick up.  This new accessory is not required to be worn at the event, but in case any Elf left their hat at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus wanted to make sure that your ears stay covered from the hot Florida sun.

Packet Pick Up will be at Gulf Breeze Apparel, 606 Cypress Ave, Venice- Friday 11/29 4pm-7pm.  

Very Important Information:

For VIE Parking, enter The Venice Community Center parking lot- 326 Nokomis Ave S- from US 41 take a left onto Turin Street and go straight. There is ONE entrance only into the VIE Parking.  Parking Pass MUST BE PRESENT, there will be a VPD Officer & Elf at the entrance, you will not be allowed in without your pass & race bib.  If you did not pick up your packet at Packet Pick Up and don't have your parking pass- your car will be directed to a drive-up check-in/packet pick up.

VIE Parking opens at 4:30pm

*Don't try to be a Sneaky Elf- Your Parking Pass matches your Race Bib and both will have to be shown together.

Once you cross the Finish Line, an MFRE Elf will award you with your Hot Cocoa Mug, and you will have access to the Hot Cocoa and Cookie Bar where we will all celebrate together.  The Finish Line area is the PERFECT place to watch the Holiday Parade, so bring a chair and plan to spend the festive evening with us!

We will have a RESERVED for Elves Only area to watch the parade, but it will not hold all 200 Elves, we will be out Wednesday at 6pm per The City of Venice guidelines putting out what we can, I highly suggest if you want a front row seat, to meet us out there with your chairs. 

**MFRE and The City of Venice are NOT responsible for any chairs left out there. **

All the delicious hot cocoa toppings are brought to you by the Elves over at Loyd Robbins & Co!! 

All the delicious cookies are brought to you by the Elves over at Mary Elizabeth Petty AAA! 

The big yellow rectangle is the start area, follow the yellow for the route, and the green dash is the walk to the after party.