Dirty Dash set for Saturday at Big Hill Park in Beloit

BELOIT — Kids will be climbing over mud mountains, wading through dirty ditches and splashing through swampy puddles during the Dirty Dash set for Saturday.

This weekend marks the 9th Dirty Dash at Big Hill Park at 1201 Big Hill Road. The dash was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been a family fun tradition each year in Beloit.

The Dirty Dash is open to young people ages 4 to 18, and there is a family run also. The event challenges youngsters to run through a muddy obstacle course of a half-mile to a mile long. Kids will climb over mounds of mud, wade through murky water, crawl through muddy tunnels, swing on ropes over mud puddles and traverse other filthy obstacles before they reach the finish line. At the end, awards will be handed out and everyone will be hosed down to get a little clean before the ride home.

The run will begin at 9 a.m. with children ages 4 to 6 in the first heat. At 9:45 a.m., children ages 7 to 12 will dive into the muddy course. At 10:30 a.m., those ages 13 and older will start the run. The family run will begin at 10:45 a.m.

Registration for the event closed at the end of July, but spectators are welcome to watch the race from the sidelines.

In years past, there have been 300 or more people who have registered for the muddy run. The event is organized by the Beloit Parks and Recreation Department, with assistance from volunteers.

Residents are welcome to come out for some good clean fun at the Dirty Dash.