Frozen Zucchini Snowshoe Race Set for January

Smart Farm’s 2012 Frozen Zucchini race will take place at Citizens Park on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. This event is a great way to enjoy some outdoor activity in the height of winter. Individuals of all ages and experience are welcome. Lots of prizes and great goodie bags are available to all participants.  The Frozen Zucchini is co-sponsored by the Barrington Park District, Erewon, and Whole Foods Market of Palatine.

The first annual Frozen Zucchini in 2011 was a tremendous success.  One hundred and sixty individuals from three states participated on a beautiful, snowy day in January.  Moving to a larger venue at Citizens Park in Barrington this year will allow for more participants but registration is again expected to quickly fill up.  Reduced entry fees are available from Nov. 16  to Dec. 16; fees go up slightly on Dec. 17.  Information on registration and snowshoe pick-up is available at Smart Farm’s website, www.smartfarms.org.

The professionally laid out and measured five kilometer course is located in beautiful Citizens Park.  The course will consist of an open field start to spread racers out and then narrow into meandering prairie and wooded trails looping back to the start.  In the case of no snow or minimal snow, the race will become a 5k run on the same or similar course; no fees will be refunded.

The Frozen Zucchini is an opportunity for individuals of all ages to get out and enjoy some fun outdoor winter activity while supporting Smart Farm, a worthy and deserving local charity.  Many volunteers are needed to run this event.  If you are interested in helping out, please contact Smart Farm at smartfarms2@gmail.com.

 Smart Farm of Barrington is a local 501c3 non-profit organization.  Its mission is to cultivate a healthy, eco-friendly community by offering learning opportunities in sustainable gardening while donating 100 percent of the produce it raises to local food pantries.  During the 2011 growing season, over 1,300 pounds of produce was donated to area food pantries.