Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/26/2021
CHICOPEE – The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host their first 5K Thriller Road Race on Oct. 30.
While the chamber has made an annual tradition out of hosting a charitable road race, this year’s will be the first to embrace the Halloween aesthetic. Executive Director of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Julie Copoulos shared that the idea originated during the group’s initial planning stages of the event at the start of the year. Once the chamber determined the race would happen in the fall, the allure of Halloween became a central focus.
“It came out of a desire to do something fun downtown. We were looking for a fun and fresh idea for this year,” said Copoulos. Copoulos shared that the event encourages people to participate in costume, with prizes being awarded for the fastest race times and participants with the best festive attire.
The event will be distributing funds evenly between the Boys and Girl Club of Chicopee and the Chamber of Commerce. Copoulos explained that the event will help continue the chamber’s mission of supporting economic development and the enhancing Chicopee as a community. Other organizations, like the Polish National Credit Union, PeoplesBank and Holyoke Medical Center, will also serve as sponsors.
This may be the event’s inaugural year, but Copoulos is hopeful this will be the start of a new tradition in Chicopee. “We hope to do this year after year. The first year of these events are always the hardest, just because you’re coming up with the theme and bouncing around all these ideas. We’re hopeful we laid a really solid groundwork so we can continue with this theme,” said Copoulos.
Readers can sign up for the race online or sign up in person until the morning of the race. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m., while the race starts at 10:30 a.m. The meeting point is at Grise Funeral Home at 280 Springfield St. in Chicopee.
The race will conclude with an after-party gathering at RumbleSeat Bar and Grille where prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $35 to participate and include a beverage ticket to RumbleSeat and $10 for non-competing children 12 and under. Readers can sign up at https://eorcrunner1.wufoo.com/forms/chicopee-thriller-5k-2021?fbclid=IwAR1EQZtkIxDuxxDvQMxGpnq4JzUPxqS_CwODzJO2SmGkpVvnw8keA2PimaQ.