The 2026 United Way Inflate to Donate Dash!

Join us this year on September 7th at the Shawano County Fair for a fun-filled fundraiser! Break out your inflatable costumes for a nail-biting sprint race at the Grandstands! The United Way Inflate to Donate Dash is an exciting 40-yard dash race where contestants compete in their favorite inflatable costumes! Contestants will compete in classed heats for the initial rounds and then a championship heat for those winning their first class. Heats will be:

• Youth Heat (8 to 12 year olds)
• Teen Heat (13 to 17 year olds)
• Men's Heat
• Women's Heat

All proceeds from this event are benefitting our Shawano Area United Way for the 2027 Funding Allocation season! Help us support the whole nonprofit community in Shawano and Menominee Counties and compete today!

Please note, you must provide your own inflatable costume.

Rules and registration information below.

Prizes

All participants will receive a t-shirt with registration and goodie bag from our sponsors and partner agencies

Winners of the individual heats will receive trophies and additional prizes valued at $50 each. The championship winner will receive an additional prize worth $100.

Trophies will also be given for the following awards as voted by a separate panel of 3 volunteers:

• Most Patriotically Dressed
• Best Wipeout
• Best Finish

Inflate to Donate Rules

• All contestants must wear inflatable costumes that fully encompass the runner (no half suits)
• Costumes must be appropriate for all ages, this is a family event
  
  • Event Staff/Volunteers reserve the right to disqualify a racer day of if their costume is not family friendly
• All Races will be 40 yards in length
• Contestants must start behind the line and wait for the starting signal before racing
  
  • In the event of a false start:
    
    • The heat will be reset if caught within the first 5 meters
    • If the false start is not caught within the first 5 meters, the runner who false started will have 10 seconds added to their time
    • If a runner false starts two times they will be disqualified from their heat
• Contestants must stay in their marked running lanes and must not intentionally interfere with another runner’s path
  
  • A Lane Violation (stepping into a different lane) will lead to a 10 second penalty to the runner’s time
  • Intentionally Interfering with another runner will result in disqualification from the event
• Remember to have fun! This is a family friendly fundraiser! 

Cost:

Please note, this is separate from your cost to enter the Fair. Entry to the Fair is required for this event.

Participants must also bring their own inflatable costumes to race in. Reminder, these must be family friendly and encompass the whole body, no half suits.

$20 for ages 17 and under

$25 for ages 18 and up