A sea of 600 Santas will sweep through Carlisle this weekend as two days of free festive fun takes over the city centre.

Young members of the afterschool running club at Cummersdale School will be among those doing the 2K dash, one of two routes on Sunday.

Headteacher Gareth Jones said: “One of the parents, Laura Baxter, approached me and asked whether pupils in the running club could do this to bring the club’s activities for the term to a festive end.

“Laura’s sons are doing the dash and her husband is at Cecil Street Auto Repair and they’re supporting the event.”

The family fun run/walk will take place after 300 runners have completed a 5k race.

The 5k will start from the entrance of the Sheepmount stadium at 10.30am.

The 2k begins at 11.30am from the tennis courts in Bitts Park.

Entries are now closed and all participants must complete registration on Sunday morning at the bandstand in the city centre, which will be open from 8.30am.

Further details are on the sportinaction.co.uk website, including a sponsor form or online donation option.

The Santa Dash has been organised by three of Carlisle’s best known sporting groups: triathlon club, Carlisle Tri; DH Runners; and Sport in Action, a sports events company.

Proceeds are going to Jigsaw, Cumbria’s children’s hospice.

Firms supporting the dash include Pirelli, McVitie’s, Greggs, Blakemore Wholesale, Andrew Bailey of J Balchin and Son Newsagents, Pacific House, Flimby-based New Balance, Barrie Mark Personal Training, Premier Electrical, Kathryn Osborn Sports Therapy, GS Lowry Design.

Claire Allen, from Sport in Action, said: “We’ve got 300 people taking part in the 5k and they are all eligible to take part in the 2k, which we’ve got another 300 signed up for. It is lovely because we’re hearing of families where you’ll have one of the parents doing the 5K and then they’re joining their children for the 2k afterwards.

“We’ve had a fantastic response, far better than we ever thought, and this is all for charity.

“We must say a huge thanks to Hope Carlisle and the city council. We decided to do this late in the day and they’ve really bent over backwards to support us.”

The Santa Dash takes place in the middle of two days of free family fun.

The same team which organised the successful street party for the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations in the centre of Carlisle six months ago are back with “Christmas in the City”.

The bandstand will be transformed into Narnia and a marquee will offer live entertainment from local schools and groups.

A rodeo reindeer will operate and there will also be a chance to be pampered with nails being done by Hollywood Nails.

There will also be a gift wrapping area and an opportunity to write letters to Father Christmas as well as meet the man himself.

People are being encouraged to donate small items such as toiletries, food, and socks in return for meeting Santa Claus.

Hampers will be made up and given out to many who are delivered meals via Meals Direct.

There will also be a quiet area for reflection led by author Kathy Knight.

Businesses and community groups are also decorating Christmas trees with donations going to the Eden Valley Hospice.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, is among the volunteers due to give a helping hand.

Organisers will also lead people in a carol service at 2pm tomorrow (SAT) and on Sunday.

Miriam Lowe is from Hope Carlisle, which has organised the event with support from the city council.

She said: “It will be running from 10.30am until 4pm both days and it will be very much like the Queen’s birthday weekend, where we’ll have lots of different areas but it will be a bit more sheltered with it being winter.

“There’ll be all kinds of things going on and it will all be free.”

See also pages 22 and 23.