It’s a big weekend in Kimberley as 500 people get together on Sunday, June 26 to celebrate the mountain lifestyle and run, bike or trek Round the Mountain.
“It’s very exciting this year,” says volunteer Jim Webster.
“We had set a target of 500 and we sold out exactly one month in advance finishing with 575 entries.
”This is 100 more than our previous high set in 2015.”
There have been a few changes made this year, with the goal of making the festival more enjoyable.
“The kids now starting in the afternoon so everyone can be there to cheer them on,” Webster said. “Also, we’ve added two kilometres of new single track trail which was just completed this past weekend. These efforts were coordinated through the Kimberley Trail Society under the direction of Colin Squirrel and utilizing R & D Contracting.”
Parking is limited on site, so people are encouraged to take the shuttle from the Platzl to come up and cheer people on. There will also be a silent auction, and music at the refreshment garden, with local food vendors on site as well.
While you’re already on North Star Mountain there is more fun for the toddler crowd a little further up the hill at KidzFest. Take a chairlift ride to check out bouncy castles, a petting zoo, crafts, face painting and more. Tickets are $10 for adults and $15 for kids, and include everything including the chair ride. The Kimberley Underground Mining Railway will be running all day so take the train up to the lift.
Those who are competing in Round the Mountain are asked check in and get their bibs at the registration centre at the Kimberley Nordic Club building on Saturday evening between 5 and 8 p.m.
Here’s the full schedule for the day:
26-June Sunday
KidzFest 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
6:00 AM Registration Centre opens
6:00 AM Free Shuttle from Visitor Centre & Alpine Resort - leaves every 30 minutes
6:30 AM Warm up Yoga for 20K Trekkers
7:00 AM 20K Trek Starts
8:00 AM Warm up Yoga - 10K Run & Duo Sprint
8:30 AM 10K Run
8:40 AM Duo Sprint - Bike then Run
9:15 AM Warm-up Yoga - 20K Bike and Duo
10:00 AM Mountain Top Kidz Festival - Kimberley Alpine Resort (free shuttle bus)
10:00 AM 20K Bike Start
10:00 AM 40K Duo Start - Bike then Run
10:10 AM Warm-up Yoga 20K Run
10:45 AM 20K Run Starts
11:00 AM Kid Zone opens
Climbing Wall
Orienteering Course
Maze
Face Painting
11:00 AM Kids Registration - opens in Kids Zone for late pick-up
11:10 AM Awards 10K Run and Duo Sprint
11:30 AM Beer Gardens open
2:00 PM Kiddie Extreme Start (U6) - Bike then Run - Kids Zone
2:30 PM Adventure Kids Start (U12)- Bike then Run - Kids Zone
2:35 PM Awards 20K Bike; 20K Run; 40K Duo
3:00 PM Live Band
5:30 PM It’s a Wrap!