If you didn’t want to end up painted and powdered, you needed to step lively in Gearhart on Saturday.

Hundreds of elementary and middle-school students and their families shared color spraying, fun costumes, games and a barbecue, all to benefit the Gearhart and Seaside Heights elementary schools and Broadway Middle School, according to Gearhart PTO president Erin Jackson.

The Coast Color Dash, inspired by similar events in 35 countries and now in its second year in Gearhart, brought families to Gearhart Park for fun and games. Last year’s event raised more than $18,000.

Gearhart PTO member Stephanie Keranen enjoyed her second event as the sun held steady, amid delighted children and rainbows of dust.

“It’s a good fundraiser, Keranen said. “Kids just love to get dirty and full of color, spraying it on each other, running around and spraying it on themselves. As they run through stations, people are spraying color on them trying to get as much color as possible.”

What makes it so much fun?

“I like getting colored!” fourth-grader Kylie Keranen said without hesitation.