It’s almost time for one of Downtown’s biggest parties and fundraisers of the year. The Breakaway-Bardog 5K and the Monroe Avenue Festival will happen Sunday, August 18. Every year this event raises tens of thousands of dollars for the kids of St. Jude, ensuring that no child’s family ever receives a bill for treatment.
There’s an additional incentive to run the Breakaway-Bardog 5K this year. The Top Overall Male and Top Overall Female finishers, as well as one race participant selected randomly, will receive a free bar tab* for a year. Okay, the asterisk is there for a reason. Winners will get a $20 Bardog gift card every week for 52 weeks. (If they gave away an unlimited bar tab for a year, that could put them out of business if one of the regulars won it!) Runners get a Breakaway-Bardog 5K T-shirt and admission to one of the best race after-parties of the year.
After the race, the Monroe Avenue Festival begins. This event was originally called the Bardog alley party, and many regulars still refer to it by that name, because it started off in the alley just east of Bardog. However, the party grew so much each year that they now have to block off Monroe from Front to Main. There is a LOT to do at the festival, including
An air-conditioned VIP area with food from local restaurants
Dunk tank – Dunk your friends, or have your friends dunk you, to raise money for St. Jude. Sign up for a shift in the dunk tank here.
Bust Grandma’s balls – This is a contest to see who can eat 40 of Aldo’s grandmother’s famous meatballs the fastest. Sign up here to compete in the contest and receive an exclusive T-shirt.
All-day raffle for St. Jude – They give away some sweet prizes, including bikes and gift cards to area restaurants.
Dabbles for Donations – Get your hair cut in exchange for a donation to St. Jude.
Live music all day long
Food – The cooks make sliders and other treats on the grill
Beverages – Lots of beers and other boozy choices. PRO TIP: They have PBR on tap inside.
Photo booth
Face painting
Celebrity sightings
Vendors selling T-shirts, art, food, and more
Here are the important times to know:
- 7:00-8:45 AM – Race-day registration and VIP sales
- 9:00 AM – Race begins. After-party on Monroe for runners through 11:30 AM.
- 10:00 AM – VIP area opens
- 12:00 PM – Monroe Avenue Fest opens to the public
- 4:00 PM – Grandma’s meatball eating contest
- 5:00 PM – Festival closes
I hope to see you all there for this incredibly fun event. Back tomorrow with more news.