Color the Kuskokwim Brings Families Together in McGrath

By McGrath Regional Health Center

Community members from McGrath, Nikolai, and Takotna joined together for the first Color the Kuskokwim Fun Run.

Under the late summer sun, more than 60 customer-owners gathered in McGrath for a new community event, the Color the Kuskokwim Fun Run and Cookout. Families from McGrath, Nikolai, and Takotna came together to celebrate the upcoming school year with a day full of color, laughter, and connection.

Excitement filled the air as participants in white shirts set off from Anderson Park. The route followed the airport runway, wound through the woods, and ended at the McGrath School soccer field, where the celebration continued. Volunteers lined the course, cheering and tossing bursts of color as runners and walkers passed by.

At the finish line, families were greeted by the smell of a cookout and a variety of activities, including a photo booth, beading, bubbles, face paint, a fishpond, and prizes. Community members shared their appreciation for the event, which is typically seen in larger towns such as Anchorage. One aunty laughed that her two nephews, “slept really hard” after the day’s excitement, while an Elder expressed joy at reconnecting with friends in McGrath and being part of the festivities.

By the end of the day, participants were smiling, tired, and covered in color. The inaugural Color the Kuskokwim was more than just a fun run. It was a celebration of health, community, and joy. Many left hopeful that it becomes an annual tradition along the Kuskokwim.