Jambalaya and king cake will be on the postrace menu at Vicksburg’s first running event of the year. It’s part of a tasty gumbo of ideas that makes the Laces For Love run special.

The Laces For Love returns for its second year, on Feb. 15 in downtown Vicksburg. There are 5- and 10-kilometer races, along with a 5K walk and a 1-mile children’s fun run. The event mashes together a Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day theme as well, with Louisiana favorites offered as postrace treats and awards designed like Mardi Gras trinkets.

Although Mardi Gras isn’t until March 4, race director Julianna Smith said the trappings of the season were such a hit for the inaugural event that it’s now a permanent fixture.

“Last year it fell on Mardi Gras weekend, so why not have some jambalaya after a cold race? That was really a hit. The king cake was another fun vibe. It is on Valentine’s Day weekend, but why not do both? It fell into place like that,” Smith said.

Besides being a fun time, Laces For Love is a race with a heart. It is put on by the Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg as a fundraiser for the various community service programs the organization operates throughout the year.

“It does a lot of good. It’s not only signing up for a race,” Smith said. “What we raise goes right back into the places in need in Warren County and Vicksburg. Something we strive to do with each event that we raise money for, is we try to put it right back into the community. Our No. 1 goal is to serve the children of Warren County.”

In keeping with another theme, Laces For Love includes a donation drive for footwear for needy families. The inaugural event accepted donations of shoes, but Smith said this year the focus is on socks.

“There was more of a need in the different places that we help out for socks. We help Good Shepherd and the children’s shelter and they said. ‘We’re good on shoes. What we don’t have is socks,’” Smith said. “So we said absolutely. This year we’re going to be asking for donations of socks of all sizes.”

The Laces For Love will begin at 8 a.m. on Feb. 15, in the 1300 block of Washington Street, and follow a course through the downtown area. Unlike many other races, there will be 5K and 10K options for runners. Smith said that was intended to appeal to more casual runners as well as highly competitive ones.

The race walk only has a 5K option.

The registration fee is $35 for the 5K events, $40 for the 10K run, or $20 for the fun run. Online registration is available at runsignup.com/Race/MS/Vicksburg/LacesForLove.

“It involves the whole family. That allows all these hardcore runners that come from Jackson, Madison and maybe Monroe that’ll see that 10K and be more apt to come,” Smith said.

After the race, runners and walkers are invited to enjoy the jambalaya and king cake refreshments that were so popular last year. Race awards will also be handed out. All of the medallions are handmade by the special needs adults at Jacob’s Ladder.

“After the race we’re going to have family time,” Smith said. “Because it’s close to Mardi Gras we’re going to have jambalaya and king cake while we hand out awards. Our awards are made by the children at Jacob’s Ladder. Each one’s different.”

Laces for Love run
The Laces for Love 5K is scheduled for Feb. 15 in downtown Vicksburg. The event will include 5K and 10K runs, a 5-kilometer race walk, and a 1-mile children’s fun run.

The race will begin at 8 a.m. in front of Key City Brewery and Milano’s Restaurant in the 1300 block of Washington Street, and follow a course through the downtown area. An after-party with a Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day theme will follow in the parking lot adjacent to the start-finish line.

The registration fee is $35 for the 5K events, $40 for the 10K run, or $20 for the fun run. Online registration is available at runsignup.com/Race/MS/Vicksburg/LacesForLove

For more information, email race chairman Julianna Smith at JuliannaSmithRDH@gmail.com.