This month the annual Palmer Lake 0.5K (point-five) race event will bank a solid decade into its history.

Serving as the largest annual fundraiser for Awake Palmer Lake, its 0.5K Race has its 10th year 10:30 a.m.-noon, Sept. 29 at Palmer Lake’s Centennial Park, 104 Hwy 105, and organizers said this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

“For a decade now the .5K has been more than just a race, it’s been a celebration of community spirit and a catalyst for positive change,” Chris Cummins, Awake Palmer Lake Vice-President, said.

Awake Palmer Lake is an organization of volunteers who, with the support and enthusiasm of its sponsors and participants, has been able to maintain the beauty of Palmer Lake and Centennial Park.

Among the improvements at the lake for which the organization and its fundraising efforts are responsible include landscaping the surrounding area, adding a stone trail, installing a staff gauge for precise water level measurements, securing matching funds to build the pedestrian bridge over the train tracks, and the soon-to-be-completed pickleball courts and community bathrooms. Labeled “The Race for the Rest of Us,” the Palmer Lake 0.5K race is a walk, run, skip or crawl event over a 500-meter trail from the east side of Palmer Lake, over the pedestrian bridge and ending in the west parking lot.

“As usual, we encourage and perhaps reward kooky and fun, and family-friendly costumes and get ups,” Cummins said. “Dogs are welcome but only good dogs. We’ve seen a few cats over the years too. We don’t discriminate.”

Registration for the event is available at AwakePalmerLake.org. Participants receive entry into the race, a commemorative t-shirt, a .5K Euro sticker, a donut at the trail’s half-way mark and a free beer or root beer at the finish line. In addition, for canine participants, one treat will be provided depending on age and species and a special bandana.

Organizers said to register before Sept. 19 to ensure participants receive their requested t-shirt sizes. Registration for the day of the event is $40 for adults, $25 for children 12-under and $20 for behaved dogs on leashes. Day-off registration starts at 9 a.m. Prizes are awarded for Best Outfit, Costume and Attitude.

“We will have great tunes at the starting line from Sunny FM and the fun continues at O’Malley’s Steak Pub after the race with a DJ and dancing,” Cummins said.

“Don’t forget to check out all our sponsors at the finish line. They help make this silly fun possible.”