On a very chilly but clear-skied Saturday morning, around two dozen racers gathered — some in Halloween costumes and others just dressed to stay warm — for the annual Costume Caper, a 2-mile run and food drive put on by North Peninsula Recreation Service Area.

At 11 a.m., the racers gathered together for the start. There were ninjas and monks, wildlife, a beverage, ghosts and even “The Man with the Big Yellow Hat” from “Curious George.”

The route started in front of Nikiski Community Recreation Center, heading out into the trail system behind the facility. Organizers told the athletes to “always turn right,” following arrows on the trail, and they came back out the same way they entered — the starting line was now a finish chute. The first racer cleared the 2-mile course in only 14 minutes.

As packs of costumed or bundled athletes crossed the finish line, they returned to the far warmer interior of the recreation center, where hot cocoa awaited them.

The race benefited the Nikiski Food Pantry. A pile of donated goods was amassed by the registration table. According to a flyer for the event, the pantry is looking for boxed and canned foods like macaroni and cheese, fruit, cereal, noodles, meat and soup.

For more information, find “North Peninsula Recreation Service Area” on Facebook.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Emery Kingery leads a small pack as she approaches the finish chute of the Costume Caper at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Zeke Smith, as “The Man with the Yellow Hat” from “Curious George” makes a final push to the end of the Costume Caper at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Juniper Pilatti leads a small pack as she approaches the finish chute of the Costume Caper at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A pack of runners, in costumes and in warm clothes, take off at the start of the Costume Caper at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)