2023 Event Summary

Thank you for joining us for our 6th Annual Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk! We’re excited to share that nearly 2,100 participants took steps against hunger, and together as a community, we raised over $90,000 for local families. Sponsorships, registration fees, purchased apparel and gear, VIP parking passes, and donations for this event directly support Sheboygan County Food Bank's work to make sure nutritious and fresh food reaches our neighbors in need.

Here’s the breakdown in numbers that show the inspiring commitment from our community:

• 1,708 walkers
• 326 runners
• 50 groups/teams
• 75+ volunteers
• 42 cash sponsors (local individuals and companies)
• 14 in-kind sponsors/partners (local companies and organizations)

The generosity we received from local businesses, individuals, and organizations made this event possible. We're grateful for our dedicated volunteer committee members who helped staff plan throughout the year and day-of-event volunteers. Special thanks to our Event Sponsor, Making Spirits Bright, and all of our other committed sponsors and in-kind partners. Read more about the big day in our Hunger Blog.

Thank you again for helping make a difference. We hope you have a wonderful rest of your holiday season!

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, November 23, 2024 will be our 7th Annual Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk. Registration will begin in August 2024.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Take steps against hunger through Making Spirits Bright's iconic holiday lights show in Evergreen Park before it's open to the public for the 2023 season. All proceeds from this event support Sheboygan County Food Bank. In the first six years of this event, over $320,000 has been raised!

• An exclusive, on-foot “sneak peek” of Making Spirits Bright
• Opportunity to receive a goodie bag full of giveaways from sponsors and community partners (first 500 packets picked up beginning at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 17 only)
• Free offsite parking and shuttle service to and from the event
• Complimentary hot beverages and cookies
• Photo op with Santa
• Professional race timing on accurately measured course (5K runners only)
• Free event photos courtesy of local volunteer photographers
• Award ceremony and after party at 3 Sheeps Brewing Company with Wheels North performance

Group/Team Discount with 10+ Members

Enjoy a $5 discount when you sign up as a Group/Team! For a minimum of 10 registrants (ages 13 and older only), all registrants will receive $5 off. Please note that registrants 1-9 will pay the normal event fee until 10 members have registered. Once the 10th member has registered, registrants 1-9 will be refunded $5. Refunds are processed about an hour after the threshold is met. However, it may take a few days for banks to process/release. The deadline to create, join or edit a Group/Team ends on Thursday, November 9 at 11:59 PM.

Special Pricing for Children 12 and Under

Keeping this a family-friendly event, all children age 12 and under register for FREE, and therefore, are not eligible to join a Group/Team to receive a $5 discount.

Shirts, Other Apparel, and Travel Mugs

Bundle up and show your support! Cotton shirts, Sport-Tek® shirts, hoodies, knit caps, and headbands are available to purchase during the registration process through Wednesday, November 1. Travel mugs are available to purchase during the registration process through Saturday, November 18. Beginning at 1:00 PM on the day of the event, a limited quantity of all apparel items and travel mugs will also be available to buy inside the Quarryview Center. All sales directly support Sheboygan County Food Bank. 

Free Parking and Parking Passes Available to Purchase/Reserve

Beginning at 3:00 PM on the day of the event there is NO PARKING at the Quarryview Center parking lot (closest parking lot to event) unless you are a volunteer or have purchased/reserved a parking pass in advance. There will be free offsite parking at parking lots within one mile of the event. Multiple shuttle buses will run from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM and continually service the offsite parking lots to transfer participants to and from Quarryview Center parking lot.

Limited supplies of Disabled Parking Passes (free) and VIP Parking Passes ($50 each) are available to reserve/purchase in advance during online registration. Please note that a Disabled Parking Identification permit through Wisconsin DMV is required to reserve a Disabled Parking Pass. VIP Parking Pass sales directly support Sheboygan County Food Bank. 

Maps for Important Event Information

• Interactive Google Event Map
• Course & Event Information
• Packet Pickup Options 
• Parking Options, Shuttle Service and Family-Friendly Drop-Off Zone

Volunteers

We're grateful for our volunteers! Volunteers help with packet pickup, registration, gear check, shuttle bus stops, water stations, the course, and clean up. Each volunteer will receive a Sartori BellaVitano wedge, Sargento Balanced Break, and one free 3 Sheeps Brewing Company beverage (redeemable on the evening of the event only) as a token of our appreciation. Thank you to Sargento, Sartori and 3 Sheeps! 

SIGN UP TO VOUNTEER

Social Media Giveaways

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch for social media giveaway announcements!

GIVEAWAY #1: Snap a photo of yourself in your holiday-themed outfit or costume at the event on November 18 and then enter our giveaway for a chance to win a $100 credit our 7th Annual Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk on November 16, 2024!

• One randomly chosen winner will receive $100 credit to use for registrations, apparel, and/or VIP parking passes for our next event on November 16, 2024.
• How to enter:
  1. Share a photo(s) of yourself in your holiday-themed outfit or costume at our 2023 event on an Instagram or a Facebook post.
  2. Tag @shebctyfoodbank in the post.
• Giveaway details and rules: You must be 18 and older to enter. Entries will be accepted through 11:59 PM CST on November 26. The winner will be randomly chosen and sent a direct message on November 27. The winner must reply to our direct message within 48 hours of the announcement to claim the coupon code credit. Participants must fully release and hold Instagram/Meta harmless from liability. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram/Meta.

Other Ways to Register

We're going paperless in 2023 for registration and will not be offering hard copy registration forms this year. If you need assistance with registration and/or if you prefer to pay with cash/check, we're happy to help you complete your online registration over-the-phone or in-person. Please connect with Erin or Lauren by calling  920-453-0169 or visiting in-person at Sheboygan County Food Bank (3115 N. 21 Street in Sheboygan), Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 3 PM.

Sponsorships

Sponsorship opportunities are available between $250 – $5,000. In-kind support sponsorships are also available. Learn more about all of our sponsorship opportunities (subject to change in 2024) and please email Lauren at lauren@sheboygancountyfb.com with any questions.  

Sheboygan County Food Bank

The Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk is Sheboygan County Food Bank's primary, annual fundraiser event. Staff and dedicated community members organize the event as a committee, while local businesses and organizations provide generous in-kind donations and sponsorship commitments. Sponsorships, registration fees, purchased shirts and other gear, and donations for this event directly support Sheboygan County Food Bank's work to make sure nutritious and fresh food reaches our neighbors in need. In the first five years of this event, a total of about $230,000 has been raised!

DONATE  |  VOLUNTEER 

Special Thanks to our Event Sponsor: Making Spirits Bright

Since 2012, Sheboygan County Rotary Clubs have been coordinating Making Spirits Bright, which is Sheboygan County Food Bank’s largest annual food drive. Admission to the park is free of charge, but donating nutritious food items is highly encouraged. Visitors have the chance to enjoy visits with Santa, wreath raffles, entertainment and concessions across the street in the Sheboygan Jaycees Quarryview Center.

Making Spirits Bright is open every night, November 24 – December 31, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (closed on Dec. 24). Nearly 1 MILLION pounds of donations have been collected since the event started!

Making Spirits Bright generously offers their venue for the Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk – Sheboygan County Food Bank's second biggest fundraiser and only event each year. Learn more about the special partnership.