Dozens of Iowa communities sponsor five and ten-K foot races, but it’s believed only two are run at night. The Moonlight Chase in Eldridge and Midnight Madness in Ames are both scheduled to be held tonight (Saturday). Carolyn Scheibe, at the Eldridge/North Scott Chamber of Commerce, says their run features a four-mile lighted course. The course is lined in luminaries and three bands are performing along the race to keep the runners pumped up. Scheibe says residents also line the course to cheer the runners on — runners who are expected to number 17-hundred this year. She says at least 600 luminaries will be used, made of two-liter pop bottles filled with sand and candles. Volunteers will be setting the luminaries up along the course and homeowners will light them. Scheibe says Eldridge is also hosting its Summer Festival this weekend, with events including: an arts and crafts fair, fireworks, a car show, live entertainment, a parade and a dance. She says there’s also something called the Farmer Olympics. It’s a relay race where participants carry sacks of grain and bales of hay.
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