The Color Fun Fest, held recently at Coca Cola Park in Allentown, showered all of its participants in color, whether they were involved in the 5K or came just for the festival.

The Color Run 5K and Holi Festival and electric dance movement were combined to maximize the color and fun. The festival, located in the parking lot in front of the stadium, featured a stage with dancers, food stands and merchandise tables. The start and finish lines for the 5K were situated on either side of the stage.

Operations manager Jessica Waffles said, "There may be a lot of different color runs, but no one is quite like us. We focus on the fun factor, and making every event about more than just running."

Those who ran or walked in the 5K had their choice of the day wave or the night wave. Each wave featured high energy music and four color stations along the 3.1 mile course that wound throughout the park.

Each station was stocked with thousands of pounds of color to ensure all runners were covered in various shades by the time they reached the finish line. The color that gives the event its name is made of food-grade cornstarch and does not stain skin, but adheres to white shirts to create souvenirs for participants.

According to Waffles, 1,600 people signed up to participate in the day wave and 2,600 participated in the night wave. Although it was a 5K, the Color Fun Fest is non-competitive and did not track individual times or who finished first.

It took approximately six months to prepare for the event, with marketing and production as first steps in the process. Coca Cola Park was not a new addition to this festival's tour route, as it had been held at the location in 2014. Waffles described it as one of the best events of that year.

As for this year's festival, she said, "Allentown did not disappoint. ... It's been one of our favorite cities to come back to."

It has not yet been confirmed, but the Color Fun Fest 2016 tour is expected to return to Allentown.

"We take a lot of pride in what we create. And we love our fans. They truly make the events a magical experience, watching thousands of people come together for the sake of enjoying each other's company and a fun show put on by our host/owner Jamie Leibert and DJ Cyndicate. We live to make memories," Waffles said.

Of the money earned from the Color Fun Fest, 3 percent benefits Just Care More, Leibert's non-profit organization that supports at-risk youth and builds strength and confidence through sports-centered activities.

The rest of the proceeds, according to Waffles, go into producing these events around the country.

Costs include deposits on venues, booking police, color cleanup, trash cleanup, advertising, staff payment, merchandise, travel costs and other aspects involved with hosting a national festival.

For more information on the charity, visit www. justcaremore.com.