C.A.R.R. 5K set Saturday with after party to feature Taylor Swift tribute act

There’s always a lot of energy surrounding the C.A.R.R. 5K, but this year it will be after the race is over that sparks really fly.

The annual 5K, organized in honor of the late Keith Carr and benefiting the non-profit organization A Kinetic Change, is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday, beginning at Deer Meadow Primary School in Greencastle.

This year’s after party in downtown Greencastle will feature Sparks Fly–The Taylor Swift Experience. The block party on South Indiana Street in front of Moore’s Bar will take place from 7-11 p.m. and also feature Ryan Young as well as Parker Black and Friends.

Andrew Keith Carr was a jovial, fun-loving 21-year-old from Greencastle. He was preparing for his junior year at Marquette University in Milwaukee, majoring in supply chain. While studying abroad for a summer term in Rome, Italy, Keith died in a tragic accident on June 11, 2013. A memorial race, the C.A.R.R. 5K was created in his honor, with more than 200 participants in its inaugural event in Greencastle in June 2014.

Now in its 11th year, the race continues to honor Carr’s legacy. Among the things that made him a unique guy, he was particularly fond of camouflaged apparel, anything American themed, and colorful attire to match his colorful personality, hence the C(amo). A(merica). R(ainbow). R(un).

Participants are invited to pay tribute to Keith’s unique sense of style by running, walking, trotting or strutting 3.1 miles sporting any number of his favorite themes. Costumes/outfits are highly encouraged and combination themes may even earn awards.

“In the spirit of Keith, please wear something that would put a smile on his face, if you feel so inclined (and we hope you do),” his family members, who remain organizers of the race, said.

Cost of the race is $30, with a registration link available at https://linktr.ee/akineticchange.

A Kinetic Change Inc. is the official benefiting charity for this race. AKC aims to increase community physical activity by creating recreation facilities, organizing fitness events and motivating people to convert their potential energy into kinetic energy with movement.

The next project for A Kinetic Change will be the installation of new Playground Equipment at Robe-Ann Park near the bandshell. Over the years, A Kinetic Change has done a number of sports and fitness-related projects at Big Walnut Sports Park.

“The basketball court, volleyball court, adult fitness stations at Big Walnut Sports Park and our next playground equipment project at Robe-Ann all come from community donations,” Julie Carr said. “We are so grateful that we all can work together to create these recreational opportunities.”

Following the race, the energy will move downtown from 7-11 p.m. Ryan Young will open the music by playing classic rock covers. Parker Black and friends will keep things going by playing “an iPod shuffle of funk/80’s/rock/country.”

The evening’s headliner is Sparks Fly–The Taylor Swift Experience paying tribute to the arguably the most popular entertainer in the world.

Sparks Fly features the talent and hard work of Sammy Jo, a Joliet, Ill., native with humble beginnings playing piano at only five years of age. Samantha has been groomed for the big stage by her parents, both of whom still perform professionally in the Chicagoland area.

With music and instruments around her everywhere, she soon picked up the guitar and began playing, starting with her young musical idol, Taylor Swift. One of Sammy Jo’s first song ever performed in public was the T. Swift smash hit “Teardrops on My Guitar.” She quickly fell in love with Swift’s songwriting and story telling abilities.

After many years of playing many of her favorite songs in coffee houses, at weddings, and for special events, she took her talent to the next level as the lead singer of Summer Son, a professional country band.

Now Sammy Jo pays tribute in true adoration of one of her favorite catalogs and talents in modern music by fronting Sparks Fly-The Taylor Swift Experience.

Visit www.facebook.com/AKineticChange/ for updates on the race and after party.

Anyone interested is encouraged to register for the race. Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday and reopen from 3:30-5:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Runners and walkers should also get their costumes together, as Saturday is coming swiftly and surely.