When in December are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in Illinois is December 5 and December 6, with 16 of them, 12 of those on Saturday, December 5. Another 2 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · December 2026 · Illinois
5K Races in Illinois in December 2026
Every 5K in Illinois in December 2026, all 35 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
32:22Median finish time
18:48Median winning time
75Median field size
10December 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.
Illinois 5K Races by City in December
All 5K Runs in Illinois in December
35 total Tue, Dec 1, 2026Santa Hustle Virtual N/A, ILFrom $80Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Rotary Santa Run Walk & Reindeer Dash Arlington Heights, ILFrom $50Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Santa's Run through the Lights 5K Run/Walk Geneva, ILFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Reindeer Run 5K 2026 Wheaton, ILFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 5, 20262026 Belleville Gingerbread 5K Run/Walk Belleville, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Santa Hustle Chicago Chicago, ILFrom $65Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run Crete, ILFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Sweaty Sweater 5k Run & 3k Fun Run/Walk Dwight, ILFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Cobden’s Christmas in the Village 5k Cobden, ILFrom $20Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Lincoln's Jingle Bell Run Robinson, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026The Village of Norridge 5K Reindeer Run and Kids Dash Norridge, ILFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026LCMH * The Great Christmas Chase 5K Lawrenceville, ILFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Blueprint For Success 5k Marion, ILFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 6, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run Kankakee, ILFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Lemont Frigid 5K Lemont, ILFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Rock Island Rotary Reindeer Ramble 5K Run/Competitive Walk Rock Island, ILFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Hornet Holiday Hustle Mount Sterling, ILFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026CHRISTmas Ugly Sweater 5K Edwardsville, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026MIKE WALSH MEMORIAL 5K RUN/WALK BEMENT, ILFrom $20Details Sat, Dec 12, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run Chicago, ILFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Candy Cane Course - Greater Chicago Elk Grove Village, ILFrom $42Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Park Ridge Santa Stroll 5k - Stroll Mile - Jingle Jog Park Ridge, ILFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Geneseo Jingle Run Geneseo, ILFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Run for Breast Cancer 5K/10K/13.1 CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Sunrise Marathon 5K/10K/13.1 CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 12, 2026Single & Mingle Spirits Run Christmas Style 5k Warrenville, ILFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Rockin' Santa 5K and Fun Run Sullivan, ILFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Santa Stomp 5K Run/Walk Teutopolis, ILFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 19, 20262026 9th Annual St. Joe Santa 5k Run/Walk St. Joseph, ILFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Jingle Jog 5K Pontiac, ILFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Catch the Elf 5k & 10k Orland Park, ILFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 26, 2026New Year's Run 5K/10K/13.1 CHICAGO/EVANSTON Chicago, ILFrom $30Register Sun, Dec 27, 2026WARRIOR RUSH: Wrath of Boreas 5K - 10K - Half Marathon 13.1 Elk Grove Village, ILFrom $35Details Thu, Dec 31, 2026New Year's Eve 5K Chicago, ILFrom $40Details
Common Questions About Running a December 5K in Illinois
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 10 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 32:22, and the median winning time was 18:48. So anything under 32:22 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 75 runners, across the 10 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 1:01:19.