NATCHEZ — Come May 14, Natchez is in for a colorful experience.

The Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce and its Young Professionals and Leadership Natchez groups are hosting the first Color Dash 5K charity fun run.

The Color Dash is a national organization that partners with local organizations to host charity runs.

Half of the profit from participant registration and merchandise is given to local organizations.

During the Color Dash — which is an untimed walk/run geared toward people of all ages and sizes — participants are splashed with blue, green, yellow, orange or pink powder, a 100 percent, non-toxic, mix of food-grade cornstarch and coloring.

Natchez has never hosted a similar event.

“We know we have people that travel to go to these types of events, so we wanted to have one here, an event that’s fun for everyone,” said Lauren Burns, a Young Professionals board member and treasurer of Leadership Natchez’s 2016 class.

Proceeds from the Color Dash will be split between Young Professionals, which will use the money for a local charitable project, and Leadership Natchez, which has chosen to donate the funds to Habitat for Humanity.

The Color Dash requires 350 participants to register two weeks before the race or it will be canceled.

Similar events in Natchez generally average approximately 200 participants, Burns said. But the Color Dash reaches beyond residents who may not normally participate in a 5K.

“This is a different kind of fun event that reaches more people,” Burns said. “The Color Dash in Vicksburg had 700 to 800 people participate, and I know Natchez can definitely have more than that.”

At last count, approximately 110 participants had registered for the Color Dash.

In an effort to spur early registration, the chamber is offering a chance to win a $200 gift card to all participants who register by April 1. The area school with the most participation will also win $500.

The Color Dash will start near the gazebo bandstand on the bluff and end inside RiverStock, an annual one-day music festival on the bluff, and registration packets include one ticket to the festival.

To register, visit the Facebook page, The Color Dash — Natchez, MS,” or go to cd5k.com and search for Natchez in locations. The cost to enter the Color Dash begins at $40 for an individual runner with discounted packages available for families, and children under 5 are free.

Chamber President Debbie Hudson said she hopes the Color Dash is an event Natchez can host every year.

“It’s another big event we could possibly grow,” Hudson said. “It’s a fun family event that promotes good health, and with RiverStock that day, it’s just going to be a really fun day.”