Fueled by Fairy Dust

How far can you go in fairy wings and a tutu? Once Upon a Race, a fairy tale-themed dash, could provide the answer. In this urban scavenger hunt, which begins at Stoney’s Bar & Grill at 11 a.m., teams of costumed Rapunzels and Rumpelstiltskins will have roughly four hours to collect clues leading to checkpoints involving a magical “fete” or challenge that must be completed before moving forward.

Race organizer Andrea Viarrial says that watching an episode of the television show Once Upon a Time inspired the theme of the scavenger hunt, and when registration opened a few weeks ago, it was obvious there was a following.

“We have 700 racers, forty volunteers and seven makeup artists involved in this inaugural year,” she says. The racers will be gathered into teams of two to six people, and will take on such challenges as lawn bowling, flip cup and beer pong (with water, of course) in an attempt to get to the finish line first.

Though registration is now closed, the Royal Court Ball, which commences at 3:30 p.m. at Stoney’s, 1111 Lincoln Street, is open to spectators. Race and best-costume winners will also be awarded cash and other prizes at that time. A percentage of the total proceeds go to the Matthew Shepard Foundation; for more information, visit www.facebook.com/onceuponarace.
Sat., April 21, 9 a.m., 2012