When in December are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in California is December 12 and December 13, with 30 of them, 22 of those on Saturday, December 12. Another 6 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · December 2026 · California
5K Races in California in December 2026
Every 5K in California in December 2026, all 79 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
What the field actually runs
December 5K Races, By the Numbers
37:42Median finish time
18:53Median winning time
131Median field size
29December 5K races with published results
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.
When in December
The December Race Weekends
5K races are not spread evenly across December. Here is how the calendar actually falls, weekend by weekend, which is the part worth knowing before you book a trip or plan a taper around one.
By the numbers
The Biggest and Longest-Running
The December 5K races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
California 5K Races by City in December
All 5K Runs in California in December
79 total Fri, Dec 4, 2026The Krampus Cross Country 5K, 10K, or Naughty Nine Miler San Francisco, CAFrom $56Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Stockton Santa Dash! 5K & 10K Stockton, CAFrom $10Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Running of the Elves 5k Marysville, CAFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Midway Shelter Winter Run / Walk ~ 5k, 10k and Kids Run Alameda, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 5, 202616th Annual Reindeer Run/Walk American Canyon, CAFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Chino Valley YMCA Reindeer Romp 5K Chino, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026South Pasadena High School Tiger Run 5K/10K/Cub Run South Pasadena, CAFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 5, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run - Orange County & Inland Empire Anaheim, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 5, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run Los Angeles, CAFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 202637th Annual Lopers Club Holiday Classic Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K Loma Linda, CAFrom $50Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Ohana Holiday Run San Diego, CAFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Jingle Bell Jog - 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $25Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Santa Runs Griffith Park Los Angeles, CAFrom $49Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Merry Miles- 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $49Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Jingle Bell Dash Kids Dash, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon & Santa Paws Doggie Run Huntington Beach, CAFrom $43Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Festival Of Lights Run La Jolla, CAFrom $72Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Reindeer Run 5k Fun Run Union City, CAFrom $35Details Fri, Dec 11, 2026The Blackhorse Marathon in Honor of MG(R) Sunell Fort Irwin, CAFrom $15Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Jingle Bell Run for Toys for Tots Fresno, CAFrom $42Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K Huntington Beach, CAFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Summit Rock Saratoga, CAFrom $83Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Bakersfield Rudolph Run Bakersfield, CAFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026LASAA Mug Run - LASD Temple Station Temple City, CAFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run Rudolph Run Pacific Grove, CAFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS 5K/10K’ (Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles, CAFrom $63Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Modesto Spirit of Giving 5K Run & Walk Modesto, CAFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Holiday Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Fun Run Goleta, CAFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Lights for Life 5K Murrieta, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Pulp Fiction: Royale with Speed 5K, 10K & 13.1 Canoga Park, CAFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026JINGLE PAWS 5K & ELF DASH Palm Springs, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CARegistration closedFrom $30View race Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CARegistration closedFrom $30View race Sat, Dec 12, 2026EPE 5k Run/Walk Los Angeles, CARegistration closedFreeDetails Sat, Dec 12, 2026Bah! Who-Bug 5K Manteca, CAFrom $25Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K Oxnard, CAFrom $80Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Silicon Valley Santa Run San Jose, CAFrom $50Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Santa Hustle Roseville Roseville, CAFrom $65Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Homeless for the Holidays 5K Run / 2.5K Walk L.A. Los Angeles, CAFrom $35Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Santa's Toy Trot - 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Santa Monica, CAFrom $25Details Sun, Dec 13, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run San Diego, CAFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Winter Runderland 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon. Kids Dash Long Beach, CAFrom $47Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026The Krew Runner's 3rd Annual Santa Con Run Salinas, CAFrom $50Details Mon, Dec 14, 2026Jolly Jog Fun Run/Walk Westlake Village, CAFrom $15Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Auburn Santa Run/Walk 5k Auburn, CAFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Bakersfield Jingle Bell Run for Toys for Tots Bakersfield, CAFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K San Diego, CAFrom $69Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Clovis Rudolph Run Clovis, CAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Run for a Claus Irvine, CAFrom $55Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Jingle Bell Jog 5k/10k Run-Walk at Dos Vientos Newbury Park, CAFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Winter Whirl - 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Fountain Valley, CAFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS 5K/10K’ (San Diego, CA) Escondido, CAFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Santa Runs Palm Springs Palm Springs, CAFrom $49Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Golden Eagle Track Fest & 5K Los Angeles, CAFrom $35Register Sat, Dec 19, 2026Feliz Navidad Run 5K 10K Half Marathon by Califlow Runs Long Beach, CAFrom $47Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Jingle Jog Palmdale, CAFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Venice Beach Holiday Run - 5K 10K Venice, CAFrom $49Details Sat, Dec 19, 202613th Annual Jingle Bell Holiday Run 1-M, 5K and 10K Perris, CAFrom $20Details Sun, Dec 20, 2026Chasing Santa - 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $25Details Sun, Dec 20, 20263rd Annual Santa's Reindeer Run - 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon Huntington Beach, CAFrom $49Details Sun, Dec 20, 2026Next Mile Unwrapped 2026 Roseville, CAFrom $45Details Fri, Dec 25, 2026Jingle All the Way - Christmas Day 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Kids Dash Long Beach, CAFrom $46Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026Ring Out the Old - 5K, 10K, Half Marathon Encino, CAFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Mateo, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTO Sacramento, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGO San Diego, CAFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCO San Mateo, CAFrom $30Register Sun, Dec 27, 2026Countdown to the Finish - 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $25Details Mon, Dec 28, 2026Port of San Diego Game Day 5K Run/Walk San Diego, CAFrom $45Details Thu, Dec 31, 2026Last Dash Before Midnight 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon Long Beach, CAFrom $39Details
Common Questions About Running a December 5K in California
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 29 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 37:42, and the median winning time was 18:53. So anything under 37:42 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
How big is a typical December 5K field?
The median one finished 131 runners, across the 29 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 1:21:51.
Are there trail 5K races in California in December?
Yes, 2 races around California get you off the pavement: 2 mix road and trail.