A glow-in-the-dark fun walk and run through Hamilton will recruit city businesses to light up the streets during the March 28 Earth Hour celebration.

The environmental charity Greenrock, in conjunction with the Corporation of Hamilton, Belco and Police, will have a section of the city’s streets closed to traffic when the lights are turned off for an hour on the night of Saturday, March 28.

The five-kilometre Glow Fun Walk and Run will be accompanied by DJs, said organiser Eugene Dean, adding that the campaign for the seventh annual Earth Hour would be the most ambitious yet.

The event is designed to raise awareness of environmental sustainability.

“While we are encouraging the entire population to turn their lights out from 8.30pm to 9.30pm — and so do things like have a candlelit dinner or play board games as family events — another option will be to turn off your lights and bring your friends and family into Hamilton and enjoy this event,” Mr Dean said.

Balloons, inflatable obstacles and black lights will be deployed, and businesses are being solicited to add special effects along the route, which will run from Waterfront Properties on Pitts Bay Road as far as King Street and back.

The route will include parts of Woodbourne Avenue, Richmond Road, Serpentine Road, Dundonald Street, Cedar Avenue, Victoria Street, Reid Street, Court Street and Front Street.

Schools and businesses are encouraged to add teams, and bring along their own neon and glow elements, to walk or run the route. “It’s an opportunity for people to be creative, decorating themselves with glow paint and different costumes,” Mr Dean said.

“We also want to encourage people to sign up as fundraisers, which they can do this year through the site www.racedayworld.com, who have come on board and partnered with us so that people don’t have to distribute pledge sheets. People can go to that site and support the campaign by signing themselves up.”

Greenrock volunteer Ashley Gillis said organisers planned to provide entertainment at different points all along the route.

“We’re encouraging everyone to come out in neon and glowing attire to get the vibe flowing,” she said. Prizes and recognition will go to the biggest teams registered, the most unusual costumes, and the individuals and teams who raise the most funds.

• To sponsor the Earth Hour event, contact Gordon Johnson, the executive director of Greenrock, at gordon@greenrock.org