The eighth annual DQ Dash 5K is slated for Sunday, May 17, beginning and ending at the Lewes Beach Dairy Queen.

The proceeds of the event benefit Go Fourth Lewes Fireworks Fund. The annual fireworks display, a popular community event, is organized by the nonprofit group and funded by donations. The show typically takes place on the Fourth of July, with fireworks launched over Lewes Beach and Delaware Bay.

The fireworks are a highlight of the day's festivities, which may include the Doo-Dah Parade, a boat parade in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, and other family-friendly activities.

The DQ Dash, organized by Ashley Diehl and produced by the Seashore Striders, will start at 9 a.m., with race-day pickup and last-chance registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. Awards will go to the overall, masters and top three finishers in 10 age groups from 9-and-under through 80-and-over. More than 350 participants are expected to take part in the event.  To register, go to seashorestriders.com. 

Summer Series

The 37th annual Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series will begin with the Masser 5-Miler Sunday, May 24, at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. The series, one of the longest-running series in the United States, will comprise 10 events, including two five-milers and eight 5Ks.

All the events begin at 7:30 a.m. and will award the top overall and masters finishers as well as the top three finishers in each of the five-year age groups. A total of 100 awards will be presented at each event.

Two of the races are more than 40 years old, while three others have surpassed 30 years old, which shows the longevity of the popular series. Here is a look at the series:

May 24 – 33rd Masser 5-Miler, Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes

May 31 – 19th Race for the Ribbon 5K, Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes

June 7 – 29th Bill Degnan 5K, Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes

June 21 – 36th Father’s Day 5K, Bandstand, Rehoboth Beach

June 27 – 22nd Jungle Jim’s 5K, Jungle Jim’s, Rehoboth Beach

June 28 – Sixth Beebe Heroes 5K, Irish Eyes, Lewes

July 4 – 36th Cape Gazette Firecracker 5K, Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach

July 12 – 44th Seashore 5-Miler, Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach

July 26 – 43rd Dam Mill 5K, Cupola Park, Millsboro

Aug. 1 – 18th Race for the Paws 5K, Dewey Lions Club, Dewey Beach.

To qualify for the end-of-the-series awards, a runner must complete at least one five-miler and at least five 5Ks throughout the series. The series results are based on cumulative time.

There will also be enough races in the series to qualify for the walk series. Read about the series at seashorestriders.com.

Finish chute

The Henlopen Conference Championships for track and field were held toward the end of this week. The results will be in next week’s editions of the Cape Gazette. The DIAA Championships will follow at Dover High School.