Mark Your Calendars for the Sonoma Valley Footrace and Festival

Spring really is coming to Sonoma Valley, and when it does, thoughts turn to the annual Sonoma Valley Footrace & Festival.

This spring the Sonoma Valley Footrace & Festival returns to the Sonoma Developmental Center on May 14, 2011. The popular event includes both a challenging 10K on- and off-road run through the stunning landscape surrounding SDC, and a 5K run that takes a mostly level course through the SDC grounds. Enter the race of your choice!

Awards will be presented to the top runners in various categories, and all runners receive a T-shirt. Adult participants will also receive a commemorative glass and tickets for beer and wine tasting at the Festival.

Both races start at 8:00 a.m. Advance registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. You can register online at www.active.com or by mail. See the event brochure (pdf) for details. On race day, registration is $30 for adults and $20 for children and begins at 7:00 a.m. (Don't be late, or you'll be running to catch up!)

For those not running - and for runners after the race - a number of other activities and entertainments are planned. The Festival part of the day's events runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and includes:

• Live music from Harvey and the Wallbangers
• Children’s carnival attractions - including a bounce house, velcro wall and games
• Free fun run for kids at 10:30 a.m.
• Car show
• Beer and wine tasting starting at 9:00 a.m. (adults only, ID required)
• Food available for purchase
• Raffle

The Festival entry is free. There will be ticket sales for the beer and wine tasting, raffle, and the children’s carnival attractions and games.

For more information and to register for the race, visit the Sonoma Valley Footrace & Festival website (www.dds.ca.gov/SVFF).