Color Me Mutt 5K & 1 Mile Color Walk/Run

We have added the opportunity to invite friends and family and be rewarded for your efforts. This year, when you refer 5 people who sign up for either the 5K or 1-Mile race you will receive a $20 refund! Please watch this video to better understand how the program works: How to Become a Referrer.

Thank you to all of our participants, both two-legged and four-legged, for making 2024's event a blast. If you’ve never participated in Color Me Mutt, check out our 2018 video flashback to learn more.  Don’t forget to see if you made the 2024 race photo album here!

Don't forget to make time before or after the race to visit our Vendor Village along the event's Start/Finish line. You'll be able to meet our nonprofit partners, enjoy food and drink, shop for unique items by local artisans and learn more about pet-related goods and services by local businesses. We'll also have a booth of Color Me Mutt branded athletic gear and dog items available for purchase!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we'll be announcing our vendors on our social media channels as we get closer to race day!

Do you have a business or nonprofit organization that you think will be a great fit for our Vendor Village? There's still time to register your booth for this year's race.  Click on the flyer below to register now!

Is the Color Me Mutt 5K timed? 
The Color Me Mutt 5K is a timed event. Award certificates will be given to the top 3 finishers in each category for both men and women. Although it is a timed event, it's also just a fun day with your furry friends and family. You can jog, run, or walk with your favorite canine.

Is the Color Me Mutt 5K safe? 
The color powder used at the Color Me Mutt 5K is all made in the USA, certified non-toxic and free of any heavy metals. Our bright colors are a combination of cornstarch, baking soda, and FD&C dyes.  

How is the color administered along the course? 
You will see a couple of smiling faces along the course whose main goal is to douse you in a colorful powder to ensure that you look like you ran through a beautiful rainbow by the time you cross the finish line. As with any substance, you want to keep it out of your eyes and our “certified” color throwers make sure to aim low as you pass by. Our color throwers will not attempt to color your dog unless specifically asked. You also have the option to wave off color at any station. Just let the color thrower know before you pass by. Some runners/walkers opt to wear glasses or goggles for their eyes and use a bandanna or dust mask for their mouths.

Will the color ruin clothes or running shoes? 
The color does mostly wash out after the event. As with anything dirty, the sooner you wash it the better. We suggest wearing items that you wouldn’t mind getting colorful. 

What about my dog?
Again, all participants have the option to wave off our color throwers, especially if you realize that it makes your dog nervous. On the other hand, we do know that some dogs love it; and some participants have requested that their dog be doused while standing in place instead of running through the color. At the end of the race, we will have color washing stations for your pet if needed.

Will you have water stations on the course?
Yes! We know that everyone, including your dog, will need to stay hydrated on the race course. We will have two water stations for the dogs on the course. The first one is at the half-mile turnaround so that dogs doing the 1-Mile event will have a chance to hydrate before finishing. We also have a second water station for both our human and canine participants closer to the turnaround for the 5K event. At the end of the race, all human participants will receive a bottle of water and we'll have another water station set up specifically for your dogs.

Are cameras and phones safe to have in the color zones? 
Our race photographers are generally fine shooting from a medium distance of 50 feet, but to be totally safe, we always recommend covering cameras and phones with a protective dust wrap. Those colorful powder particles are sneaky and the Color Me Mutt 5K is not liable for any damage that might be done to your camera or phone.  

Can spectators attend the post-race Finish Festival? 
Absolutely! You’ll want to attend the Pet Parade and visit with our fabulous vendors for unique items by local artisans and craftsmen. 

What happens is there if bad weather? 
A little rain won’t stop the happiest 5K! It even makes the colors brighter! In the event that severe weather does threaten on the weekend of the event, we will inform and update via email.