Celebrate State Parks & Indiana’s Connection to Bob Ross with the Happy Little (Virtual) 5K
Make plans now to get up and get moving in celebration of our Indiana State Parks and the connection the Hoosier State shares with artist Bob Ross.
Indiana Set to Participate in Sixth Annual Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K
In April of 2025, The Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5k will return. What first began with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 2020, The Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K now has nine participating states, including Indiana.
Celebrate Earth Day with the Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K
The Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K will take place again in 2025, just in time to celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day in the Hoosier State.
Remember Watching Bob Ross Teach the World to Paint on PBS?
Most of us remember watching Bob Ross back in the day. At the very least, you likely flipped past his show, "The Joy of Painting," on PBS while thumbing through cartoons only to catch a snippet of one of his most famous sayings as he artfully taught the world how to paint beautiful landscapes: "There are no mistakes, just happy accidents."
Bob Ross Taught Us That There Are No Mistakes
Maybe you were one of us that would stop and watch in wonder as he masterfully created the most beautiful paintings, complete with "happy little trees." The is no doubt that Bob Ross was a national treasure of sorts with his puff of curly hair, his signature denim shirts, and his voice that just felt like a warm hug of encouragement.
The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross was Filmed for Many Years in Indiana
"The Joy of Painting" was filmed for several years in a small studio inside the L.L. Ball home in Muncie, Indiana, before it was relocated to the Edmund F. Ball Communication Building on the campus of Ball State University.
In the early 1980s, landscape painter Bob Ross began taping THE JOY OF PAINTING in the original WIPB-TV studio – a two-story yellow L.L. Ball home in Muncie, Indiana. Ross filmed this simple, soothing half-hour painting series in the small first-floor studio of the house, which still bears the “X” where he stood as he painted his “happy little trees.” In 1988, WIPB and the show moved to the Ball State University campus into the Edmund F. Ball Communication Building.
One Event to Celebrate Indiana Nature and the State's Connection to Bob Ross
The Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K celebrates both nature and the connection of Bob Ross to Indiana. Indiana State Parks and Indiana Natural Resources Foundation participated for the first time in the event in 2023, raising $16,000 for the organizations.
The Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K Returns in 2025
Returning to Indiana in 2025, the Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K is open to all who wish to participate - whether you walk or run. The great thing about this 5K is that you can pick your pace and the place that you participate.
READ MORE: This Interactive Trails Map Can Help You Find Your Next Indiana Hike
Cost to Register for the Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K
The event will take place between April 19- 27, 2025 and includes both Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25). Registration is just $36 per person, and each entrant will receive a Happy Little Trees t-shirt, commemorative race bib, and a finisher's medal.
How to Register for the Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K in Indiana
Registration for the Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K is underway now, and while registration is open until April 15th, 2025, those who wish to participate are encouraged to register no later than April 1st to ensure delivery of your race packet. Register today for The Happy Little Trees (Virtual) 5K - be sure to select Indiana from the dropdown at the bottom of the form.
LOOK: Which movies were filmed in Indiana?
Gallery Credit: Stacker
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