News

RICHMOND, IN. – The Richmond Parks and Recreation Department is dashing through December ahead as they get ready for multiple festive events and activities including the Highland Lake Golf Course’s 13th Annual Snowball Shootout, Rosemary Weigel Frostbite 5K, Celebration of Lights, Richmond Senior Recreation Center’s Winter Blood Drive, and the Richmond Farmers Market’s Holiday Festival.

Highland Lake Golf Course invites teams to register for their 13th Annual Snowball Shootout on December 4th at the golf course. There will be an 11am shotgun start with 2-person teams playing the golf course backwards, and a chili lunch after the round. Registration for the Snowball Shootout is $20.00 per player plus applicable cart and green fees.  Sign ups can be done by calling (765) 983-7287 or in person at the course.

The Rosemary Weigel Frostbite 5K is back in person this year, and is sponsored by Whitewater Valley Rehabilitation, the Wayne County Challenge, and G101.3! The 5K begins near twilight at 5pm on December 4th in Glen Miller Park. The one of a kind race is a crowd favorite as it sets the scene for a beautiful evening run, walk, or stroll through the park as hundreds of luminaries light the way. The Frostbite 5k is the only evening run/walk in the Wayne County Challenge, making it unique, and helps to fund free summer park events and programs. 

In addition to helping financially support summer programs, the Rosemary Weigel Frostbite 5K is special to the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department in another way. The race is named after Rosemary Weigel, a long-time park employee, who passed away in February 2012 after battling cancer. According to Parks’ staff members, “Rosemary was always a fixture at the race and very involved in department programs. We can’t think of a better way to keep her park spirit alive than to name our 5K after her.” 

After the Rosemary Weigel Frostbite 5K on December 4th, be sure to stick around Glen Miller Park for the Celebration of Lights! This celebration is the Parks’ annual "Welcome to Winter" event, and features hundreds of luminaries around the park while providing horse drawn wagon rides around the lake, seasonal music, a visit from Santa Claus, hot chocolate, crafts and more. The Celebration of Lights is between 6pm-9pm, so bundle up!

The holidays are known as the giving season, and this year, HYPE Wayne County and the Richmond Senior Recreation Center have teamed up to bring the next community blood drive to Richmond. The Winter Blood Drive is on Thursday, December 16, 2021, between 9am – 2pm at the Richmond Senior Recreation Center, located at 1600 S 2nd Street. Registration is required and can be done by visiting www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time.

Mark your calendars for the Farmers Market Holiday Festival on December 18th between 9am-1pm at the Starr Gennett Facility located at 101 South 1st Street. The Holiday Festival will feature a visit from Santa, a scavenger hunt for the kids, a Holiday basket giveaway from various market vendors, live music from The Wallens, breakfast items from Sweet Blessings, and beverages from Cordial Cork.

“We are excited to have these end of the year winter opportunities back in person and available for our community. Our goal is to provide the best programs and events in our spaces.  We hope to see you and your families able to come out this year and relax, make memories and enjoy time together in your parks.” Denise Retz, Park Superintendent. ‍

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The mission of the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department is to provide for the positive development and well-being of the Richmond community through the provision of parks, greenways, trails and recreational programming and facilities while working in cooperation with other service providers and partners in the community to maximize all available resources.‍

For questions, imagery, or for media requests, please reach out via the contact details below:

Alyssa Soria

Richmond Parks and Recreation

Recreation Programming and Events Coordinator

asoria@richmondindiana.gov

765-983-PARK

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Denise Retz, CPRP

Richmond Parks and Recreation

Superintendent

50 North 5th Street    | E: deniseretz@richmondindiana.gov

Richmond, IN 47374 | T: 765-983-PARK