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A snowball effect

Wantagh to hold holiday 5K

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The Wantagh Snowball 5K Run will take place on Saturday. The race begins on Wantagh Avenue, near the LIRR station.
The Wantagh Snowball 5K Run will take place on Saturday. The race begins on Wantagh Avenue, near the LIRR station.
Courtesy Ed Grenzig/LIRP Long Island Running Photos

Nearly 200 runners will hit the streets of Wantagh this weekend in the community’s annual 5K Snowball Run, which has been held for the past 23 years. The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, the race’s sponsor, has announced the route for the event, and motorists should expect road closures beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Runners will take off near the Wantagh Long Island Rail Road station, and make their way up Wantagh Avenue. The route will twist onto local streets — each dotted with homes decorated for the holidays — including Bunker Avenue, Martin Drive, Hawthorne Drive and Stratford Street (see map). An awards ceremony will follow. The day-of-race registration fee is $30.

“This event is beneficial to the Wantagh community, because it grows participation in our local events and brings recognition to the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce and our members’ businesses,” Chamber President Patrick Benot said. “It also brings people from outside the community in to [see] our various businesses and the great town of Wantagh.”

Event proceeds, Benot said, will be earmarked for next year’s run as well as the Holiday Lighting, snowflakes to decorate the streets and the Spring Fun Hunt. The organization also uses the funds to provide scholarships to Wantagh High School students and awards for Boy and Girl Scouts, and to provide wreaths to local groups like the American Legion.

“The race is growing yearly,” Benot added. “We have a professional company, Elite Feats, who will mark down arrows on the road and provide timing statistics for results of the race.”

Snowball Run shirts will be provided by Wantagh businesses and organizations. After the race, runners and race officials will meet at Tavolo Kitchen, where medals will be handed out and participants can nibble on post-race refreshments.

To participate or for more information, go to www.wantaghchamber.com.