The Waldo Waldo 5K Run & Walk

Thank you for 7 great years!

Grand Finale

The 2018 Waldo Waldo 5K Run & Walk

We hope you'll join us on our new adventure, The Gallop 5K in Garden of the Gods, October 19, 2019. Find out more and register now. See you there!

Find out more

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Registration Closed

Volunteer Opportunities Closed

Exhibitor Inquiry

Sponsor Inquiry

Downtown Residents Info

elope, Inc. logo

As the original incubator of The Waldo Waldo 5K, elope’s generous support has made the Waldo Waldo 5K possible every year since 2012. Family owned and operated, elope is proudly headquartered in Colorado Springs. They specialize in designing, manufacturing, and distributing hats, glasses, costumes, dress-up accessories and other whimsical wearables that spread joy and laughter. For more information, visit elope.com.

Presenting Sponsor

Rubie's Costume Company logo

Sponsors

Downtown Partnership logo
Bristol Brewing Company logo
Aventa Credit Union logo
PeakRadar.com
Gold's Gym logo
CS Indy logo
OrangeTheory Fitness

Springs Magazine
Marco's logo
D1 Sports Training
Complete Nutrition
Home Advisor
Waste Connection logo

Renewal by Anderson
Refill Coffee

Sponsor Inquiry

Tickets that include costumes are sold out!
Bring-Your-Own costume tickets are still available!

Photos coming soon!

Follow us on Facebook to keep updated.

The Waldo Waldo 5K Grand Finale

The 2018 Waldo Waldo 5K Grand Finale was the final year of the Waldo costume theme! If you have friends and family who have "always wanted to do it" let them know it's now or never! Come celebrate seven awesome years and let's make this the best one ever!!! Read more.

Gazette Best of The Springs 2017

Thousands of Waldos and Wendas will take to the streets in downtown Colorado Springs, Saturday – October 20, 2018. Waldo Waldo is the region's most popular untimed 5K walk and fun run. Local exhibitors, music, and food trucks all added to the fun. Best of all, registered participants receive a Where’s Waldo costume kit. Money raised benefits local nonprofits that support community priorities like Waldo Canyon restoration and trail maintenance.

Runners of all ages and ability are welcome – walkers and strollers too!

Costume Included!

The registration fee comes with a Waldo or Wenda costume kit (characters from the popular "Where's Waldo?" children’s books) that includes a shirt, hat and glasses! The price increases the morning of the event.

A Good Cause

The money raised benefits local nonprofits that support Waldo Canyon restoration, disaster relief and fire recovery, and trails and open space maintenance in Colorado Springs and the surrounding community.



Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are Rocky Mountain Field Institute and the Trails and Open Space Coalition

"This funding is hugely important, not only for the continued restoration of the burn scar, but the potential reopening of the beloved Waldo Canyon Trail." — RMFI

Packet Pickup

Please bring your ticket!

Tuesday, Oct. 16 – Friday, Oct. 19
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.


Bristol Brewing Company
1604 S Cascade
Colorado Springs, CO 80905

Registration is on track to SELL OUT this year! Make sure you get to packet pickup EARLY to get the size you want!

We’ll have costumes available for you to try on to make sure you get the right fit, as they tend to run a little small. Check your costume package to make sure everything looks good – exchanges are very limited!

Picking up your friend’s costume?
Please make sure you have their ticket!

Have friends that still need to register?
Register online, in person during packet pickup, or at the day of the event. If tickets aren't sold out, same-day registration begins at 7:30 a.m., ends at 9:00 a.m., and is $40.00.

Packet Pickup

Please bring your ticket!

We appreciate your flexibility with costume sizes this year.

We’ll have costumes available for you to try on to make sure you get the right fit, as they tend to run a little small. Check your costume package to make sure everything looks good – exchanges are very limited!

Picking up your friend’s costume?
Please make sure you have their ticket!

Have friends that still need to register?
Register online, in person during packet pickup, or at the day of the event. If tickets aren't sold out, same-day registration begins at 7:30 a.m., ends at 9:00 a.m., and is $40.00.

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Pioneers Museum
215 S Tejon Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

7:30 a.m. – Event opens (day of event registration begins, ends at 9:00)
8:30 a.m. – Warm-up yoga for all ages (by Cambio!)
9:00 a.m. – Day of event registration ends
9:30 a.m. – Big group photo, don't be late!
9:45 a.m. – Find your wave, running begins!
10:00 a.m. – Beer garden opens, music, food trucks, exhibitors welcome you back!

Event Guide

Download the Event Guide for everything you need to know for the 2018 Waldo Waldo 5K!


Parking & More Info

We will have a designated handicapped parking at the park. It is recommended to walk, ride bikes or car pool.

Free parking at the Antler's Hotel courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield. Enter from Pikes Peak or Antler's Place, but NOT from Colorado Avenue. The entrance from Colorado is bank parking, and is not free. Please write "Waldo Waldo 5K" on your ticket and check out with the attendant to receive free parking.

The parking garage on Nevada and Colorado (ABOVE ground, not the “Nosh” garage) is only $1 for all day on weekends and is right next door to the start/finish. The other city garages (Kiowa/Nevada and Bijou/Cascade) are also only $1 for the full day on weekends.

Please: NO dogs, due to the amount of people we are going to have in one location for the World Record Attempt, we are choosing to keep dogs out of the event. Thank you for your consideration.

No Refunds. If you can't make it to the event, please consider your registration a donation to wonderful Colorado Springs non-profits!

Already have a costume? Make sure to select "I came last year and do not need a costume" when you place your order!

Follow us on Facebook to be the first to hear details and all the fun things coming for the 2018 Waldo Waldo 5K.

(Psst: looking for something from last year? You can still find all the 2017 event info here.)

Grand Finale

The 2018 Waldo Waldo 5K Grand Finale is the final year of the Waldo costume theme! If you have friends and family who have "always wanted to do it" let them know it's now or never!

Come celebrate seven awesome years and let's make this the best one ever!!!

Over the last 7 years, we've have fun, made an impact, and brought lots of silly people together! It's been outrageous and exciting every single year, seeing thousand of people all dressed in red and white, huge smiles on their faces!

We're so thankful that our event became a staple event in Colorado Springs, and for the continued support. We've worked countless hours, dedicated many late nights, and poured our hearts into this event. We strive to give each participant a great experience, and do our best to pay close attention to every detail. We are so thankful for Elope, our dedicated volunteers, supporters, friends and family that made it all possible. We're consistently humbled by the overwhelming love and support.

Over the past 7 year we've donated more than $200,000 to Waldo Canyon restoration and trails and open spaces in Colorado Springs. Things like willow saplings, hillslope stabilization, erosion control treatments, tools, volunteer education, and much, much more has been possible because of the Waldo Waldo 5K. A portion of Waldo Canyon is now open to the public – what a great feeling to know that we all played a part! 

We're looking forward to creating new ways to support the community with accessible family friendly fun! We have fun new things planned, stay tuned for 2019 and beyond!

— Chelise Foster

History

The devastation of the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire sparked the Waldo Waldo 5K into existence. The run is a project dedicated to bringing motivated people together to have fun in costume and raise money for community needs. After two years of incubation with the elope Inc. team, the Waldo Waldo 5K grew into an independent organization dedicated to supporting natural disaster relief. Since 2012, thousands of participants dressed as Waldo or Wenda have raised more than $200,000 for local nonprofits. Beneficiaries include the Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Trails and Open Space Coalition and Waldo Canyon Firefighters Relief Fund at Pikes Peak Community Foundation.

Raising Money for a Good Cause

The 5K raises money to support natural disaster and fire recovery efforts, and trails and open space maintenance in Colorado Springs and the surrounding community. Money is granted to the primary event beneficiaries.

As a community fundraiser, transparency is very important to us. We're always happy to give a breakdown of event expenses, revenues, and final donation amounts. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

♥ COS

This is a local, home-grown event. We partner with local businesses and work with local vendors as much as possible. The money raised is invested in local non-profits doing excellent work right here in Colorado Springs.

The event is produced by Waldo Waldo, Inc. Registration costs, accessory sales, and sponsorships pay for event expenses such as rental fees, insurance, race infrastructure and materials, medical support, event planning, organization and execution, volunteer coordination, event promotion and marketing, and planning for next year's event! After expenses, net proceeds generated are donated to the Waldo Waldo Fund to support our awesome local beneficiaries. We rely heavily on volunteers, friends and family, sponsors, in-kind donation and community support to pull it off every year. The primary purpose of the event is to raise money and have fun (not generate profit for out-of-state event companies) so we work hard to keep expenses down and find local organizations to sponsor the event or provide in-kind donations. We’re always interested in creative ideas and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded people in the community. Want to be involved? Have a cool idea? Get in touch!

Recognition

Gazette Best of The Springs 2016 CS Indy Best Of Colorado Springs 2014 – Silver in Best Fundraising Events!

Press Releases

2016 Press Release for the Waldo Waldo 5K (pdf)

2015 Press Release for the Waldo Waldo 5K

Coverage

Our Town: Host Sarada Connors talks to Chelise Foster from the Waldo Waldo 5K (9/26/15)
— AM 740 KVOR

Partners in Philanthropy Award winners improve community’s quality of life
— The Gazette

Chelise Foster: Waldo's star in stripes
— Colorado Springs Independent

2014 Waldo Waldo 5K photos
— Pikes Peak Sports

Runners dressed as Waldo raise money for Waldo Canyon restoration
— KRDO News Channel 13

Thousands dress as 'Where's Waldo?' to support Waldo Canyon restoration
— KXRM Fox 21 News

Waldo Waldo 5K Photo Gallery
— The Gazette

Waldo Waldo 5K could break records; event runs Sunday
— The Gazette

Waldo Waldo – Fitness for our Town!
— 6500 Feet Fit

There's a deeper meaning behind Waldo Waldo 5K's playful red and white stripes
— Pikes Peak Sports

Gallery: Waldo Waldo 5k
— Team USA

A Thousand Waldos Run Inaugural 5K
— Runners World

Waldo Waldo 5k raises money for fire and flood restoration across El Paso County
— KOAA 5

Waldo Waldo 5k Photo Gallery
— ColoradoSprings.com

Waldos Everywhere During The Waldo Waldo 5K
— KKTV 11 News

Q&A with Chelise Foster, the creative go-getter behind the Waldo Waldo 5K
— Pikes Peak Sports

There's Waldo! Run raises money for fire relief fund
— News 9 KUSA-TV


Sponsor Inquiry

Where’s Waldo? TM & © DreamWorks Animation LLC. Used by permission.

Details

Saturday, October 20, 2018
Downtown Colorado Springs

Questions

Questions or ideas? Get in touch! waldowaldo5k@gmail.com

Connect

Contact us on Facebook at facebook.com/thewaldowaldo


2017 event info →
2016 event info →
2015 event info →
2014 event info →
2013 event info →
2012 event info →