If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy walking along Burlington’s beautiful waterfront, then the Butter Tart Festival Race is for you.
Race Director Kelly Arnott says, “I got the idea for a Butter Tart Festival Race from a friend who organized the Butter Tart Festival at the Burlington Art Gallery.” The first Butter Tart Festival Race was held four years ago and then put on pause because of the pandemic.
This year, 450 runners and walkers are expected to gather at Spencer Smith Park on Saturday, August 12th.
Arnott says, “People can come out and walk or run the 1K, 3K, or 5K route. They don’t have to be runners. Runners receive butter tarts when they pick up their race kit. Longo’s is supplying the butter tarts at the finish line. It’s a special event because people come out to eat butter tarts.” By the end of the event runners will have eaten a few butter tarts. And if they haven’t had their fill, after the race, they can go the Butter Tart Festival at the Burlington Mall.
The Opening Ceremony is at 8am with the first race beginning at 8:30am. The race route runs along the Burlington Waterfront Trail. Entertainment is being provided by Anthony Tullo. It’s a fun-filled event for the entire family.
At the end of the route, each participant receives a finishing medal designed by Kelly Arnott. She says, “The medal features a butter tart in the middle and then the top opens to reveal another butter tart inside. Our butter tart medal is special, along with all the finishing medals at all our VRPro races.” The runners with the best times in their age category will be presented with a trophy with pictures of butter tarts on it.
Supporting Community Living Burlington
Proceeds from the Butter Tart Festival Race will go to Community Living Burlington. VRPro, the race sponsor, has raised more than $50,000 for the charity to date.
Sara Hignell, Community Living Burlington’s Resource Development Manager says, “Community Living Burlington is honoured to be the recipient of VRPro’s Butter Tart Festival Race. Funds raised will help enrich the quality of life and promote full and meaningful inclusion in our community of people who have a developmental disability. We’re wishing all the runners best of luck on race day.
Kelly Arnott is urging the community to get involved by volunteering or running the race route. “They can come out and walk and support the charity if they want to be involved in the community and part of something where they can be physically active.” The developmentally challenged adults at Community Living Burlington have a special place in the race organizers’ hearts because they are involved in putting the race kits together. Quote Community Living Burlington
You can register for the Butter Tart Festival Race online or go to the Running Room on Fairview Street on Friday afternoon before the race. You can also register on race day before the opening ceremony. All the runners will receive a VRPro drawstring bag and of course their fair share of butter tarts. Kelly Arnott says, “I think everybody will have two or three butter tarts or more at the festival. It’s going to be a super delicious day.”
For more information on the Butter Tart Festival Race and where you can park click here.