Nov. 21-27, 2013
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NOV. 21-27, 2013 ------------- Feature • Galloping Gobbler ------------ A Pre-Turkey Trot By Michele DeVinney between Christmas and New Year’s (and this year on December 28). With that race There’s a reason gyms are packed to ca- established, VEEP Racing was off and, well, pacity every January. Sure, the New Year of- running. This year there are nine events at fers an opportunity for resolutions and new various northeast Indiana trails and paths, beginnings, a time to start a lifestyle often and the Galloping Gobbler has become one postponed until the next Monday. But the of the most popular, for a variety of reasons biggest reason that people often feel moved that go beyond guilt over upcoming con- to move in January is as a remedy for the ex- sumption. cessive indulgences (and likely extra pounds) through the holi- --------------Cover Story • HolidayFest ------------- day season. But some people don’t wait until January 1 to get in shape. Some do it all year round, or at least find ways to balance the treats that offer such temptation at family gatherings and special meals. For the last eight years, The Fort Lights Up many in the northeast Indiana area – more than 3,000 actually By Ashley Motia she offered some suggestions. “The Night of – have found a way to work off Lights is a can’t miss! It hits all of the must- that turkey and pumpkin pie be- Each November, thousands of people see lightings and caps off with fireworks at fore the meal has even begun. gather in the chilly downtown streets for Parkview Field, plus the HollyPop boutique The Galloping Gobbler run/ what has become a yearly tradition for many shop kicks off that night as well at 127 West walk is one of the largest 4-mile of them. They walk from site to site, giddy Wayne Street. The Festival of Trees at the runs in the country and one of with anticipation as each attraction lights up Embassy and the Festival of Gingerbread a growing number organized its corner of downtown. This is when holi- at the History Center make for really great through VEEP Races, helmed day magic is more alive than ever. This is family favorites that run though the season by Fort Wayne City Council- the Night of Lights, which on Wednesday, too.” man Mitch Harper. November 27 kicks off HolidayFest – a sea- For those looking for what’s new this Harper first began organiz- son-long celebration of the Christmas spirit, year, the University of Saint Francis has ing local races almost 20 years family and downtown Fort Wayne. joined HolidayFest with a lighting attraction ago when he redis- “Many families have made it a tradi- on Berry Street, bringing the total to eight covered his own tion to come down for Night of Lights,” said displays. They will also have a Christ Child love of running. GALLOPING GOBBLER RUN Anita Homco, who coordinates all things Festival at the Performing Arts Center (for- “I got back Thursday, Nov 28 HolidayFest for the Downtown Improve- merly the Scottish Rite). into running in the 4 Mile Run Starts 8:30 a.m. ment District. “A woman recently told me In addition to all of the HolidayFest mid 90s and made that even though she has only lived in Fort sights, Homco emphasized the importance a pledge to myself Hutzell Center “We have a Wayne for six years, she feels like she was of buying local as part of the programming. that I would do it University of Saint Francis lot of people who raised here because of this sense of tradi- The goal of the season-long event (as with differently than Fort Wayne like the chance to tion and the family-friendly atmosphere we most Downtown Improvement District I did in the 80s,” get a run out of provide with events like this. It makes Fort events) is to get people visiting, dining and says Harper. “Dif- 15K Towpath Run Starts 8 a.m. the way early on Wayne feel like home.” shopping in downtown Fort Wayne. The ferent distances, 8000 block of West Jefferson before they enjoy But it’s more than that. One of the great answer to that last component is the Holly different surfaces, their Thanksgiving things about HolidayFest is that you’re Trolley Shopping Day on Saturday, Novem- different people Blvd., Fort Wayne meal, and for them not just an observer – you’re a participant. ber 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. around me.” it’s become part of Whether it’s walking the streets of down- “We are so excited to bring Holly Trol- As he began Registration: $25-$30 their holiday tradi- town during the Night of Lights, skating at ley Shopping Day back again this year. This to look into orga- www.veepraces.com tion. Some people Headwaters Park or caroling at the court- event is an excellent way to remind people nizing races, the travel some dis- house, HolidayFest invites you to become that there are many great restaurants and internet was just on the verge of exploding tance to get here for the holiday, and while part of it. retail locations right here in downtown,” into a cultural phenomenon, but it was there some people are sleeping in that day or while “This event promotes community in- Homco said. “With more than 50 participat- that he began to get ideas for how to pro- the food is being prepared and others feel at volvement and gives people a sense of pride ing vendors downtown and in Wells Street ceed. loose ends, they can get out of the house and in Fort Wayne. Plus, nearly everyone I talk Corridor, Holly Trolley Shopping Day pro- “It was on the internet that I learned get in a run.” to tells me they are prepared to freeze their vides not only a fun and exciting shopping about ultra-marathoning, and I started ap- Since Harper learned about such races tooshes off while they stand in line for a experience, but it keeps those locations in plying the same marketing principles to or- on the internet, it’s not surprising he’s made dog from Coney Island,” Homco laughed. mind for everyday visits after the holidays ganizing and promoting races here that I had the internet work for him ever since. He “That’s kind of become a tradition in and of are over.” learned in running for political office. I saw was the first in the area to institute online itself!” The complete list of Holly Trolley Shop- that in North America, there were 12,500 registration (though mail-in forms are also The Downtown Improvement District ping Day participants can be found on the people who had run at least one ultra-mar- available for download) and finds that the works hard every year to coordinate a di- HolidayFest website. Trolley rides are free athon in the United States and Canada, and website helps draw new runners to the event verse, exciting lineup to warm the heart of during this day, and many businesses will I saw that we could tap into that market to each year. even the Scroogiest. This year’s schedule offer one-day-only discounts or limited edi- start a local race. I learned a lot from an “A lot of people who are traveling here runs from the last week of November into tion items. The first 250 Holly Trolley riders ultra-marathoning magazine, but most of for the holidays will look online for an event January of 2014, offering flexibility around will receive a keepsake holiday tote bag for what I learned I found online. These races like this and find ours and register.” holiday parties and options for entertaining carrying purchases along the shopping tour. wouldn’t have happened without the inter- Harper says the event has taken place in out-of-town guests. For younger yule tiders, stop by Science net.” all kinds of weather, from rain to snow to Homco admitted that it can be difficult That ultra-marathon, The Huff 50K trail to choose which events to add to your list, so Continued on page 12 run, takes place each year on the weekend Continued on page 12 2 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.whatzup.com ----------------------------------------------------------November 21, 2013 whatzup DEC. 6-15 Volume 18, Number 17 ARTS UNITED t’s a crazy busy time – for you and for us – as we forge ahead into the CENTER holiday season. With so much to do in so little time, we all need to take Select performances an occasional pause to appreciate not just the holidays, but the many and with Fort Wayne variedI events and festivities that come with them. That’s where we come in. We Phlharmonic tell you what there is to do – during the holidays and throughout the rest of the TICKETS year. ON SALE NOW! In this issue of whatzup, for instance, we tell you about Fort Wayne’s 260.422.4226 HolidayFest which kicks off Wednesday, November 27 with downtown’s tradi- LIMITED PREMIUM tional Night of Lights celebration (page 2); the Galloping Gobbler 4-mile run SEATING AVAILABLE and 15k runs that have become a Thanksgiving tradition for running enthusi- asts from miles around (also on page 2); and the Embassy’s Festival of Trees, always a must-do event for the holidays (page 4). And after these “what there is to do” stories, we shine a spotlight on some of the artists that give our area its cultural vibrancy: actor/director/producer Christopher J.