Monster Dash

Monster Dash is a name used for Halloween-season races featuring short, family-friendly distances, costumes, and local causes. The Longwood event is a 5K run/walk with a kids' dash starting and finishing at the Historic Civic Center in downtown Longwood. Orlando's OCA Monster Dash takes place at Blue Jacket Park in Baldwin Park, offering a 5K, Kids' Fun Run, and Family Stroll. Lake-Sumter State College hosts a 5K/10K Fun Run around Silver Lake near its Leesburg Campus, and Providence holds a downtown 5K with a kids race for those 12 and under. The specifics vary by location, but the format is consistent: participants wear Halloween costumes, bring children, and complete a distance manageable without extensive training. Longwood directs its proceeds to the Longwood Historic Society, supporting landmark preservation, including late nineteenth-century historic district buildings. Orlando's race supports OCA programs for individuals with autism and special needs, welcoming runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants. Lake-Sumter provides registered participants with a shirt and gift bag, times the race, and awards top finishers, while Providence offers individual and team costume awards and is part of the Run Rhody Grand Slam series.