The Boo Bash will have a kids fun run to go alongside the adults running to benefit Scarborough High School track and cross country teams. Contributed / Wayne Keller

A spooky 5K and kids fun run at Scarborough High School is set for this Sunday, Oct. 20.

The third annual Boo Bash to benefit the Scarborough High School track and cross country programs will be similar to other races the booster club holds throughout the year – except for the costumes, face painting, Halloween-themed games and more.

Participants in the fun run will each receive a medal with prizes going to the top boy and girl finisher. There also will be awards for different age groups in the 5K in addition to the fastest overall female and male runner.

Chris Harmon dressed as Batman in a previous Boo Bash, followed by Sam Chick and Craig Robinson. Contributed / Wayne Keller

However, the prizes don’t stop there at the Boo Bash.

“We’re going to give out some awards this year for costumes, too,” said Marshall Merriam, race director. “Best Adult Costume, Best Kids Costume and Best Pet Costume. So we encourage people to dress up, dress up a dog, and just have some fun celebrating the holiday around this time of year.”

Face painting, lawn games such as cornhole, and “Halloween-themed, larger-than-life tic-tac-toe” all will be on hand, Merriam said.

“If people have some extra time after they show up and grab their bib number before the race starts, or while they’re waiting for awards (afterward), we have a lot of simple things anybody can participate in,” he said.

Each participant in the races also will receive a Boo Bash reusable shopping bag, “which can certainly double as a trick-or-treat bag,” Merriam said.

The money raised through the race goes a long way in supporting some of Scarborough’s student athletes. That includes apparel when a track or cross country team wins a championship.

“We get every participant of that championship team a jacket that shows their state championship (win and is) embroidered with their name,” he said.

Haleigh Cole reaches the finish line for the Boo Bash 5K in an earlier year. Contributed / Wayne Keller

The funds raised also go toward entry costs for meets that the school department doesn’t cover, Merriam said, as well as stipends for some assistant coaches that aren’t covered by school fees.

“There are a variety of places these funds go, but it’s all to support our athletes, ensure they have the best equipment and the best coaching support possible for their success,” Merriam said.

The third annual Boo Bash will take place at Scarborough High School at 11 Municipal Drive on Sunday, Oct. 20. The 1-mile kids’ fun run kicks off at 10 a.m., followed by the 5K at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, and to register for the race, go to runsignup.com and search for “Scarborough Boo Bash.”