Indiana’s Youngest Runners to Take Over World’s Largest Sporting Venue  

The 500 Festival announces registration is open for the 500 Festival mini-mini. The 2022 500 Festival mini-mini will take place on Sunday, August 21 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500. The event is open to children ages 5-12. Parents or guardians may register their mini-mini runner for $20 at IndyMini.com/minimini. 

The 500 Festival mini-mini is an officially timed run designed specifically for kids and provides Indiana’s youth with an exciting race experience similar to the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Participants will experience larger-than-life fun - complete with course entertainment, cheering spectators, iconic photo ops, and the coveted mini-mini medal. Thousands of young runners and cheering fans from all over the state will take over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest sporting venue in the world, for this one-of-a-kind event. 

“The 500 Festival mini-mini is a unique opportunity for youth to experience the fun of fitness and the excitement of a timed running event,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Participants in the mini-mini will also experience the beloved Hoosier traditions behind the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and its iconic lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.” 

The mini-mini features four different race distances, .5-mile, 1-mile, 2-miles, or 3-miles, allowing participants to select the race and distance that best meets their age and ability. All participants will finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s famed Yard of Bricks. All 500 Festival mini-mini participants will receive a commemorative participant shirt, drawstring bag, and the coveted mini-mini finisher medal.  

Race Day Schedule 

• 1:00 pm Gates Open; Celebration Zone Open; Packet Pickup Begins 
• 1:45 pm 3-Mile Distance Race, ages 11 – 12 
• 2:50 pm 2-Mile Distance Race, ages 9 – 11 
• 3:40 pm 1-Mile Distance Race, ages 7 – 9 
• 4:15 pm 0.5-Mile Distance Race, ages 5 – 7 
• 5:00 pm Gates & Celebration Zone Close 

Ages above are suggested. Times are approximate, subject to change. The top three male and female finishers of each race will receive awards. No one older than the suggested age range is eligible for awards. Awards are based on chip time, not actual finish position. 

Participants can celebrate their finish-line victory with friends, family, and fans in the mini-mini Celebration Zone, featuring free, fun activities for children of all ages. From dance floors and obstacle courses to fun games, face painting, and inflatables, there’s something for everyone at the 500 Festival mini-mini! 

Online registration is available now through August 14 for $20. Registration will be available on the day of the event for $25 (while supplies last). To learn more about the 500 Festival mini-mini or to register, visit indymini.com/minimini or search #Indyminimini on social media.  

Volunteer registration for this year’s 500 Festival mini-mini is now open. Volunteer positions available include Course Assistance, Ask-Me and Event Information, Packet Pick-Up, Pit Stations, Reunion Zone, and more. Volunteer registration and opportunities can be found here.  

The 500 Festival mini-mini is supported by the 500 Festival Foundation and Youth Fitness Cornerstone Partners: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Crowe LLP, the Indianapolis Colts, and WISH-TV. 

About the 500 Festival | Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces more than 50 life-enriching events and programs while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500® and fostering a positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $500 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit 500festival.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   

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