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What Is A Colour Run?

Drawing inspiration from the ancient Hindu festival of Holi, a colour run adds a unique twist to the traditional fun run. Participants are showered with colour powder at designated stations throughout the course, emphasising the experience over finishing time. This event is ideal for families looking to create lasting memories whilst raising money for charity.

But how does a colour run work, I hear you ask! Let me guide you through it all...

  

When/where to hold a colour run

When organising a colour run, the main concern is the weather. The ideal weather for a colour run is warm, dry, and calm. Consider spring or early summer for the best conditions. Be cautious of running in the scorching midday heat of summer to prevent overheating.

 Choose a field or grassy area for the course. Running on grass is more comfortable than tarmac. If you don't have your own outdoor space, contact your local authority or businesses that may be willing to donate their space for the day.

Volunteers

Get recruiting early, colour runs are an all-hands-on-deck event! You'll need volunteers at colour stations, refreshment and activity stalls and of course marshalling the event. If you're finding it difficult to get confirmed volunteers, reach out to local businesses. Not only does it look good for their Corporate Social Responsibility, but it's a really fun team activity! Consider creating a recruitment plan outlining specific roles needed for the event.

What to wear?

White t-shirts are the perfect canvas for our vivid colour powders. Did you know we offer a bespoke printing service? Contact us for a quote! 

Eye protection is a must, as with anything, if our colour powder goes in your eyes it can cause irritation. We have a range of vibrant and affordable sunglasses available here.

Our motto is dress for mess as the colour powders can cause staining, so don't wear your fancy white trainers! We recommend comfortable and sturdy trainers, that you don't mind getting mucky. Colour powder on tarmac can be slippy, so be sure to take care! It's worth having a waiver available for runners/children who are taking part - we have an waiver template available to download.

What is colour powder?

Contrary to popular belief, the powders that are thrown at colour runs aren't paint. Our powders are made from corn starch and food grade dyes. They're designed to be kind to skin, so we don't add any preservatives or bulking agents. You can find out more about our colour powders by reading through our material and safety data sheet.

Charity colour run

As seen in the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice case study, a colour run can be an incredibly profitable event. Increase profit by having refreshment stalls available, sell accessories and 100g bags of colour powder to spectators, and have the usual 'whack-a-mole', buy a bottle and teddy tombola stalls available. These are great ways to raise more money.

Photo opportunities

The best way to capture the vibrancy of the day is to organise a 'colour cloud' at the end of the run. Simply throw handfulls of colour powder, or opened 100g bags, into the air to create a wonderful rainbow cloud of colours! This will give you wonderful images to share after the event, and can also be used for promotion for next years event! 

Hopefully you've now got a better understanding of what a colour run is and how it all works. If you still have any questions, get in touch with our friendly team of colour experts who will be more than happy to help!

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