Barnabas Health to Hold Family Festival During Marathon Weekend

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LONG BRANCH – Barnabas Health, New Jersey’s largest hospital and health care system, will hold a Family Festival and Kids Races from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 26, at the Great Lawn at the Ocean Promenade as part of the Annual Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon race weekend.
The fun-filled day of activities will feature kids races, clowns, face painting, carnival games, a bounce house, crafts, Zumba for kids, balloon artists, spin art, entertainment by Mr. Scott the Music Man, The Fun Bus, prizes, refreshments and more. Kids also will have the opportunity to decorate boards to cheer on runners in Sunday’s marathon.
The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center will host a teddy bear and doll clinic. Children are encouraged to bring their own stuffed animals and dolls to be evaluated by nurses of the Unterberg Children’s Hospital.
Kids races start at 9 a.m. and include the toddler dash for ages 2 to 4; kids fun race for ages 5 to 8; half-mile mini-marathon for ages 9 to 12, with race ending at the official New Jersey Marathon finish line; and the “kids” 1.2-mile marathon for “kids” ages 8 to 99, with prizes.
All races are free with an optional donation to on-site local charities including The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, Family Promise, Bridge of Books and the Central Jersey Brain Tumor Association. The cost to participate in the mini-marathon is $15.
The New Jersey Marathon is a three-day celebration of health and wellness held Friday through Sunday, April 25-27. The signature races are held Sunday, April 27. The weekend includes the New Jersey Health & Fitness Expo, the NJ Marathon and Half Marathon, the Shaping NJ 5K and other family friendly events.
Registration begins on-site at 8:30 a.m.