Two “Firsts” for Mountain Home on October 26th – Mud Run and The District Street Festival

Mountain Home will host two “firsts” for the community on Saturday, October 26 – one on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) and one downtown in the newly established Entertainment District. ASUMH will hold a Mud Run called “Whoo’s Gettin’ Dirty?” to benefit student scholarships, the Ed Coulter Student Emergency Fund, and intramural programs.  The downtown event will feature live music, food, vendors, and more.

About the day, Mayor Hillrey Adams praised organizers of both events and said, “This is going to be a great day for Mountain Home. With these events, there is something for everyone and for all ages. The college (ASUMH) will host runners from all over the state who can then visit downtown for a fantastic family celebration.”

ASUMH’s Mud Run begins at 8:00 a.m. and will feature both a 5K and 10K obstacle course. There are competitive and non-competitive divisions and all participants will receive a race t-shirt and finishers receive a medal. The event is being produced by Pirate Perry Events for ASUMH and proceeds will go to the ASUMH Foundation. Awards will be given to overall winners for the competitive events. Athletes can participate in adult, master (40+), or kid’s divisions. Children five years and over may participate with a guardian in a children’s wave.  Discounts are available for early registration, but runners may register on-site October 25-26.

“As Chancellor at ASUMH, I am excited about our newest adventure, the ‘Whoo’s Gettin’ Dirty?’ Mud Run. This challenging event will consist of obstacles engineered to test a runner’s strength and, as the name suggests, will take place in the mud on the campus of ASUMH,” said Dr. Robin Myers. Obstacles include more than 30 stations throughout the ASUMH campus. They include: Muddy Mess, Haystack Walls, Tire Rolling Pin, Sandbag Carry, A-Frame Climbing Wall, Culvert Crawl, Monkey Bars, Low Rope Crawl, Over Under Logs, Slip & Slide, Tire Conveyor Crawl, Climbing Wall, Vertical Cargo Net, Tire Mountain, Creek Crossing, Stump Walk, Balance Beam and more. The course ends with a mud pit for both 5K and 10K participants.

“This is a very competitive course,” added Paul Gigliotti, race coordinator. “It’s intricate and difficult but set in a really cool venue on the ASUMH campus. This is up-to-snuff with any other course runners have seen for this kind of race.  I’ve run races all over the country and this will be on par with any I’ve run before.”

Mollie Morgan, Development Officer at ASUMH, said there will be a Kids’ Zone, food trucks, and more for the whole family; spectators are welcome.  “This will be a fun event that the whole family can attend or participate in. We’re raising money for students and having fun, so what could be better?”

Businesses are encouraged to enter a team which consists of two or more individuals who navigate the course together.  The team’s finishing time will be based on the last person to cross the finish line. Everyone who’s registered as part of a team will receive bonus swag to show team spirit.  Corporate team discount codes are available for a 25% discount on the registration fee.

For more information or to register for the Mud Run, visit pirateperryevents.com/whoos-gettin-dirty or contact Mollie Morgan at ASUMH by email at mmorgan@asumh.edu or by phone at (870) 508-6191.   The Mud Run will be held on the ASUMH campus at 1600 South College Street, Mountain Home, AR.

Activity will shift to the downtown Mountain Home Entertainment District at 2:00 p.m. where the first-ever District Street Festival will be held around the courthouse square, on East 6th Street, South Baker Street, and East 7th Street. The free festival will include live music, food trucks, classic cars and motorcycles, vendors and more until 9:00 p.m.

Bruce Hayden, organizer of the event, says the public can expect games, food, music and fun for all ages.  “We are excited that Mountain Home was the first Entertainment District in the state to be established in June of this year.  This first event will be a fantastic time for families to enjoy downtown’s new district as a festival destination. It’s a great day to be all over Mountain Home enjoying the great place we call home.”  Roads will be blocked off at the following intersections during the event: S Baker St and 5th, S Baker St and 8th, HWY 62 and 6th, HWY 62 and 7th, 6th and Church Street and 7th and Church Street.