![Las Vegas Great Santa Run 2007 [image courtesy of Opportunity Village]](https://www.holidaytravel.cc/Article/UploadFiles/201602/2016022516094509.jpg)
It’s about that time of year when downtown Las Vegas is temporarily overrun with Santas. But this isn’t some convention, it’s all for a good cause.
The Las Vegas Great Santa Run is a charity event held every December to benefit Opportunity Village, a local organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities and the families who love them. Over the years, it’s grown so popular that in 2007, over 7,200 people showed up to participate dressed as Santa and set a world record.
The 2008 edition is scheduled for Saturday, December 6 at 10am. Registration for the event costs $35 per person ($25 for those 12 or under) if the participant signs up by noon on December 5, or $45 per person regardless of age if signing up on the day of the event. This fee includes a brand new 5-piece Santa suit and other gifts, including a ticket to the 2008 season of Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. There are also prizes available for those who choose to raise additional donations via personal/private pledges.
Once registered, participants have a choice of doing a 5K run through the downtown Vegas area or an easier 1K walk through the first part of the race course. Both the run and walk will start and end at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and Fremont Street.
Leading the morning kick-off festivities will be Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, along with celebrities like Siegfried and Roy and Robin Leach.
For more information, including course maps, or to register for the event, visit LasVegasSantaRun.org.
Even though last year’s record has since been broken by another city, the Las Vegas Great Santa Run is hoping to get a bigger turnout for 2008 to reclaim the title. And whether you walk or run, it’s great fun to see all the people dressed as Santas, knowing it all goes for a wonderful cause.
