Check out HUNDREDS of AWESOME PHOTOS from our talented volunteer photographers. $40,000 was donated in 2015!
Thousands of Waldos and Wendas took to the streets in downtown Colorado Springs, Saturday – October 17th. Waldo Waldo is the region's most popular untimed 5K walk and fun run. Local exhibitors, a Bristol beer garden, music, food trucks all added to the fun. (There was even "Waldo Yoga!") Best of all, registered participants received a Where’s Waldo costume kit. Money raised benefits local nonprofits that support community priorities like Waldo Canyon restoration and trail maintenance.
➼ Jump to: route map our awesome sponsors event guide
The $35 registration fee comes with a Waldo or Wenda costume kit (characters from the popular "Where's Waldo?" children’s books) that includes a shirt, hat and glasses! The price increases to $40 the morning of the event. Registration is open now!
The money raised benefits local nonprofits that support Waldo Canyon restoration, disaster relief and fire recovery, outdoor activities, and trails and open space maintenance in Colorado Springs and the surrounding community.
elope's generous participation and support has made this event possible since its inception in 2012. More about our sponsors.
Pioneers Museum
215 S Tejon Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
7:30 a.m. – Event opens (day of event registration begins, ends at 9:00)
8:30 a.m. – Warm-up yoga for all ages (by Cambio!)
9:00 a.m. – Day of event registration ends
9:30 a.m. – Big group photo, don't be late!
9:45 a.m. – Find your wave, running begins!
10:00 a.m. – Beer garden opens, music, food trucks, exhibitors welcome you back!
Download the Event Guide for everything you need to know for the 2015 Waldo Waldo 5K!
We will have a designated handicapped parking at the park. It is recommended to walk, ride bikes or car pool.
Free parking at the Antler's Hotel courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield. Enter from Pikes Peak or Antler's Place, but NOT from Colorado Avenue. The entrance from Colorado is bank parking, and is not free.
The parking garage on Nevada and Colorado (ABOVE ground, not the “Nosh” garage) is only $1 for all day on weekends and is right next door to the start/finish. The other city garages (Kiowa/Nevada and Bijou/Cascade) are also only $1 for the full day on weekends.
Staying over night? The Mining Exchange Hotel and The Hotel Eleganté have special rates for participants on October 16 and 17. *** When you call please let the reservation desk know you are with Waldo Waldo 5K for the special rate.***
Please: NO dogs, due to the amount of people we are going to have in one location for the World Record Attempt, we are choosing to keep dogs out of the event. Thank you for your consideration.
No Refunds. If you can't make it to the event, please consider your registration a donation to wonderful Colorado Springs non-profits!
Already have a costume? Make sure to select "I came last year and do not need a costume" when you place your order!
(Psst. Looking for something from last year? You can still find all the 2014 event info here.)
The run was first set up in 2012 as a response to the Waldo Canyon Fire, to bring people together to have fun and raise money for local community needs, especially supporting natural disaster relief and fire recovery efforts, outdoor activities, and trails and open space maintenance in Colorado Springs and the surrounding community. Since 2012 we've had thousands of participants dressed as Waldo or Wenda, and raised over $100,000 for local nonprofits such as Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Trails and Open Space Coalition, and the Waldo Canyon Firefighters Relief Fund at Pikes Peak Community Foundation.
The 5K raises money for The Waldo Waldo Fund, a fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, which supports natural disaster and fire recovery efforts, outdoor activities, and trails and open space maintenance in Colorado Springs and the surrounding community. Money is granted from this fund to the primary event beneficiaries.
As a community fundraiser, transparency is very important to us. We're always happy to give a breakdown of event expenses, revenues, and final donation amounts. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
This is a local, home-grown event. We partner with local businesses and work with local vendors as much as possible. The money raised is invested in local non-profits doing excellent work right here in Colorado Springs.
The event is produced by Waldo Waldo, Inc. Registration costs, accessory sales, and sponsorships pay for event expenses such as rental fees, insurance, race infrastructure and materials, medical support, event planning, organization and execution, volunteer coordination, event promotion and marketing, and planning for next year's event! After expenses, net proceeds generated are donated to the Waldo Waldo Fund to support our awesome local beneficiaries. We rely heavily on volunteers, friends and family, sponsors, in-kind donation and community support to pull it off every year. The primary purpose of the event is to raise money and have fun (not generate profit for out-of-state event companies) so we work hard to keep expenses down and find local organizations to sponsor the event or provide in-kind donations. We’re always interested in creative ideas and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded people in the community. Want to be involved? Have a cool idea? Get in touch!
2015 Press Release for the Waldo Waldo 5K
Our Town: Host Sarada Connors talks to Chelise Foster from the Waldo Waldo 5K (9/26/15)
— AM 740 KVOR
Partners in Philanthropy Award winners improve community’s quality of life
— The Gazette
Chelise Foster: Waldo's star in stripes
— Colorado Springs Independent
2014 Waldo Waldo 5K photos
— Pikes Peak Sports
Runners dressed as Waldo raise money for Waldo Canyon restoration
— KRDO News Channel 13
Thousands dress as 'Where's Waldo?' to support Waldo Canyon restoration
— KXRM Fox 21 News
Waldo Waldo 5K Photo Gallery
— The Gazette
Waldo Waldo 5K could break records; event runs Sunday
— The Gazette
Waldo Waldo – Fitness for our Town!
— 6500 Feet Fit
There's a deeper meaning behind Waldo Waldo 5K's playful red and white stripes
— Pikes Peak Sports
Gallery: Waldo Waldo 5k
— Team USA
A Thousand Waldos Run Inaugural 5K
— Runners World
Waldo Waldo 5k raises money for fire and flood restoration across El Paso County
— KOAA 5
Waldo Waldo 5k Photo Gallery
— ColoradoSprings.com
Waldos Everywhere During The Waldo Waldo 5K
— KKTV 11 News
Q&A with Chelise Foster, the creative go-getter behind the Waldo Waldo 5K
— Pikes Peak Sports
There's Waldo! Run raises money for fire relief fund
— News 9 KUSA-TV
Elope, Inc. headquarters are in beautiful Colorado Springs. They design, manufacture, and distribute fun wearables including hats, sunglasses, costumes, and accessories to retailers around the world. For more information, visit www.elope.com.
Where’s Waldo? TM & © DreamWorks Animation LLC. Used by permission.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Downtown Colorado Springs
Questions or ideas? Get in touch! waldowaldo5k@gmail.com
Contact us on Facebook at facebook.com/thewaldowaldo