The Mountain Education Foundation’s highly anticipated 10th Annual Dash & Bash is fast approaching, and this year’s event promises to be the most exciting yet! Join us in celebrating a decade of community fun and support for our schools on Friday, April 11, 5-8 p.m., at the Signal Mountain Middle/High School (SMMHS).
This milestone year will feature new attractions, an expanded setup, and even more activities. Returning by popular demand, the event will include the Mountain Mile, a one-mile fun run through the SMMHS campus. The Bash community party will be bigger and better than ever, with new inflatables, a brand-new Bash Alley featuring over 20 exciting games and challenges, and a lineup of food trucks offering a variety of delicious options. Whether a returning participant or a first-time attendee, this year’s Dash & Bash is not to be missed.
Over the past decade, Dash & Bash has brought Signal Mountain families together. Casey Robertson, a local parent, shared how the event strengthened their connection to the community: “We moved having this vision of what Signal would be, a close-knit small town. One spring, MEF brought us together as a community through Dash & Bash. We went to the event, I volunteered, my family ran around with friends, and I left saying, ‘This is it. This is exactly what I expected Signal to feel like.’ MEF really builds our community through these events to support our schools.”
This year’s event will feature over 20 new interactive activities and experiences, student-hosted booths, and an expanded selection of larger and more exciting inflatables. Among the highlights, guests can enjoy balloon art, face painting, a thrilling bungee trampoline, inflatable axe throwing, obstacle course inflatables, bounce houses, and even a stilt walker to amaze and entertain! SMMHS’s theater group will also be bringing back the fan-favorite “Lockup,” where you can put someone in jail. Additionally, a petting zoo and various activities designed for younger guests will ensure there’s fun for everyone.
Attendees will be delighted by an increased number of food truck vendors, offering a wide variety of options, including burgers, barbecue, burritos, and desserts. Guests who wish to enjoy dinner with the community are welcome to attend without purchasing an activity wristband. Food vendors will accept both cash and credit card payments, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit MEF.
The MEF fundraising event lives up to its name, truly being a bash in every sense, with an estimated 2,500 attendees and 600 runners expected to register and participate. Dash & Bash welcomes all ages, skill levels, and abilities.
The generous support of sponsors plays a vital role in ensuring the event’s success. MEF actively seeks event-specific sponsors to cover event costs, allowing all funds raised to directly benefit our schools. In addition to event sponsors, MEF Annual Sponsors are essential to this support.
Since its creation, Dash & Bash has raised nearly $400,000 for Signal schools, with a net average of about $40,000 annually. Funds raised through the event contribute to the annual MEF grant allocations for Nolan, Thrasher and SMMHS. Each school determines how they will use its funding each year. Traditionally they have prioritized hiring staff for classes and needs not covered by public funding, including STEM, Spanish, tech/computers, tutoring, intervention, and more. A complete list of what is funded this year by donations to MEF is at https://meftoday.org/.
“The DAB is a wonderful event for the community to come together to have fun while supporting our public schools on Signal Mountain,” said Emily Cooper, one of the original organizers of the inaugural Dash and Bash in 2015. “It is like a big block party that brings us together as a community to celebrate our wonderful schools, amazing students and dedicated teachers. It is events like the DAB that make Signal Mountain such a great place to live and raise a family!”
Advance race registration and discount tickets and wristbands are available through April 6. The link for registration is found on the MEF website, https://meftoday.org. Early registration is $25 for the fun run. There is no entry fee for the Bash, though there are costs associated with activities. Wristbands for unlimited Bash activities can be purchased in advance for $30. Day-of prices at the event are higher.
Pre-registered runners can pick up packets at the SMMHS on Thursday, April 10, 5-7 pm. Race day registration is available with pricing increasing to $40 for all runners and wristbands. There are no refunds, and the event will be held rain or shine.
“We want everyone to come out, have fun and feel the spirit of our community. There is no entry fee to just come enjoy the huge block party atmosphere and have fun with friends. Running in the Mountain Mile, participating in the booth activities with a wristband or tickets, and buying food, all contribute to funds raised for our schools. Net proceeds from the event will directly impact the funding available for Signal schools next year, so we hope for a phenomenal turnout! If you’re not able to attend at all, you can always make a contribution at MEFtoday.org. An investment of any amount makes a difference for our nearly 2,800 children,” said MEF executive director Hilarie Robison.
This 10th-anniversary event is a unique opportunity to celebrate and support Signal Mountain’s schools while enjoying an evening of community fun. Whether participating in the run, enjoying the festivities, or simply gathering with friends and neighbors, all are encouraged to attend.
by Emily Odeh
This milestone year will feature new attractions, an expanded setup, and even more activities. Returning by popular demand, the event will include the Mountain Mile, a one-mile fun run through the SMMHS campus. The Bash community party will be bigger and better than ever, with new inflatables, a brand-new Bash Alley featuring over 20 exciting games and challenges, and a lineup of food trucks offering a variety of delicious options. Whether a returning participant or a first-time attendee, this year’s Dash & Bash is not to be missed.
Over the past decade, Dash & Bash has brought Signal Mountain families together. Casey Robertson, a local parent, shared how the event strengthened their connection to the community: “We moved having this vision of what Signal would be, a close-knit small town. One spring, MEF brought us together as a community through Dash & Bash. We went to the event, I volunteered, my family ran around with friends, and I left saying, ‘This is it. This is exactly what I expected Signal to feel like.’ MEF really builds our community through these events to support our schools.”
This year’s event will feature over 20 new interactive activities and experiences, student-hosted booths, and an expanded selection of larger and more exciting inflatables. Among the highlights, guests can enjoy balloon art, face painting, a thrilling bungee trampoline, inflatable axe throwing, obstacle course inflatables, bounce houses, and even a stilt walker to amaze and entertain! SMMHS’s theater group will also be bringing back the fan-favorite “Lockup,” where you can put someone in jail. Additionally, a petting zoo and various activities designed for younger guests will ensure there’s fun for everyone.
Attendees will be delighted by an increased number of food truck vendors, offering a wide variety of options, including burgers, barbecue, burritos, and desserts. Guests who wish to enjoy dinner with the community are welcome to attend without purchasing an activity wristband. Food vendors will accept both cash and credit card payments, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit MEF.
The MEF fundraising event lives up to its name, truly being a bash in every sense, with an estimated 2,500 attendees and 600 runners expected to register and participate. Dash & Bash welcomes all ages, skill levels, and abilities.
The generous support of sponsors plays a vital role in ensuring the event’s success. MEF actively seeks event-specific sponsors to cover event costs, allowing all funds raised to directly benefit our schools. In addition to event sponsors, MEF Annual Sponsors are essential to this support.
Since its creation, Dash & Bash has raised nearly $400,000 for Signal schools, with a net average of about $40,000 annually. Funds raised through the event contribute to the annual MEF grant allocations for Nolan, Thrasher and SMMHS. Each school determines how they will use its funding each year. Traditionally they have prioritized hiring staff for classes and needs not covered by public funding, including STEM, Spanish, tech/computers, tutoring, intervention, and more. A complete list of what is funded this year by donations to MEF is at https://meftoday.org/.
“The DAB is a wonderful event for the community to come together to have fun while supporting our public schools on Signal Mountain,” said Emily Cooper, one of the original organizers of the inaugural Dash and Bash in 2015. “It is like a big block party that brings us together as a community to celebrate our wonderful schools, amazing students and dedicated teachers. It is events like the DAB that make Signal Mountain such a great place to live and raise a family!”
Advance race registration and discount tickets and wristbands are available through April 6. The link for registration is found on the MEF website, https://meftoday.org. Early registration is $25 for the fun run. There is no entry fee for the Bash, though there are costs associated with activities. Wristbands for unlimited Bash activities can be purchased in advance for $30. Day-of prices at the event are higher.
Pre-registered runners can pick up packets at the SMMHS on Thursday, April 10, 5-7 pm. Race day registration is available with pricing increasing to $40 for all runners and wristbands. There are no refunds, and the event will be held rain or shine.
“We want everyone to come out, have fun and feel the spirit of our community. There is no entry fee to just come enjoy the huge block party atmosphere and have fun with friends. Running in the Mountain Mile, participating in the booth activities with a wristband or tickets, and buying food, all contribute to funds raised for our schools. Net proceeds from the event will directly impact the funding available for Signal schools next year, so we hope for a phenomenal turnout! If you’re not able to attend at all, you can always make a contribution at MEFtoday.org. An investment of any amount makes a difference for our nearly 2,800 children,” said MEF executive director Hilarie Robison.
This 10th-anniversary event is a unique opportunity to celebrate and support Signal Mountain’s schools while enjoying an evening of community fun. Whether participating in the run, enjoying the festivities, or simply gathering with friends and neighbors, all are encouraged to attend.
by Emily Odeh
RSS Feed