More than 10,000 people braved the cool May weather early Sunday morning to participate in the region's first Color Run, donning tutus, wigs and crazy glasses to mark the occasion.

Runners travelled down the "Yellow Powdered Round", got an orange fake tan and borrowed a look from the Smurfs over the five-kilometre course around the harbour and Stuart Park.

The run culminated with the Festival Finish, a huge dance party where participants were given bags of powdered paint to throw at each other, ensuring runners were well and truly coloured.

The party continued well into the morning with many people investing in extra paint to coat themselves, family and friends.

Color Run national manager Luke Hannan said he was thrilled with the city's response.

"It was absolutely phenomenal to see so many smiling faces along the run and in the colour zones, it was just great," he said.

"I've been all around the country, this is our 14th stop, and to see a response like this from a town like Wollongong, we're just blown away, the city has really got behind it."

Mr Hannan hoped the event would become an annual favourite on Wollongong's busy social calendar, noting the city had the perfect backdrop.

"I've been to runs in New York, London and Tokyo but I think Wollongong has the most beautiful course," he said.

"We'll be working closely with Wollongong City Council to do everything we can to stage it again." Nearly 3000 kilograms of paint was thrown on the day.