Charlotte Holiday Runs 2026 — Jingle Bell 5Ks & Santa Races

Bells on the shoelaces, cocoa at the finish: Charlotte's December calendar has 11 holiday-season races for 2026 — jingle bell runs, Santa dashes, and ugly-sweater 5Ks. They're the most beginner-friendly races of the year, built for families and first-timers. The next one up is Santa Scramble 5K on Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Every listing links straight to registration.

• Sat, Nov 21, 2026 Santa Scramble 5K Concord High School - Race Day Packet Pickup location and race parking (shuttles leave here to the Start Line) · From $18 5K Road
• Sat, Dec 5, 2026 Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (49) 2229 Tyvola Rd · Charlotte, NC · From $30 5K10KHalf Marathon Road
• Sat, Dec 5, 2026 4.01K Reindeer Run TBD · Rock Hill, SC · From $40 10K Road
• Sat, Dec 5, 2026 Jingle Bell Rockin' Run 605 W. Kings St. · Kings Mountain, NC · From $20 5K Road
• Sun, Dec 6, 2026 Locust Elfie 5K Run/Walk 175 Ray Kennedy Dr · Locust, NC · From $20 5K Road
• Sat, Dec 12, 2026 Holiday 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M at Concord, NC (50) 760 Orphanage Rd · Concord, NC · From $30 5K10KHalf MarathonMarathon Road
• Sat, Dec 12, 2026 2026 Jingle Bell Run - Charlotte, NC 15810 Ballantyne Medical Pl · Charlotte, NC · From $25 5K Road
• Sat, Dec 12, 2026 Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina Charlotte Motor Speedway · Concord, NC · From $20 5K Road
• Sat, Dec 19, 2026 Frosty 5k 511 Aspen St · Lincolnton, NC · From $40 5K Road
• Sat, Dec 19, 2026 Santa Run 8K/5K & Snowman Dash 324 S. Mint St · Charlotte, NC · From $20 5K Road
• Thu, Dec 31, 2026 NOON Year's Eve 5K 2026 8711 Monroe Rd · Charlotte, NC · From $16 5K Road

Race-day tip

December races are the best gateway race to give someone: register a friend, then train together through the cold weeks — accountability is the real gift.

Looking beyond december holiday? See every upcoming Charlotte race →