When in December are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in Massachusetts is December 5 and December 6, with 9 of them, 6 of those on Sunday, December 6. Another 2 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · December 2026 · Massachusetts
5K Races in Massachusetts in December 2026
Every 5K in Massachusetts in December 2026, all 19 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
33:50Median finish time
17:31Median winning time
310Median field size
8December 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.
Massachusetts 5K Races by City in December
All 5K Runs in Massachusetts in December
19 total Sat, Dec 5, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run - Central MA Worcester, MAFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Special Olympics Massachusetts Jolly Jaunt Boston, MARegistration opens Dec 5From $40Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Mattapoisett Santa Stampede Mattapoisett, MAFrom $35Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Happy Holidays Half MerryThon & 5K Race Gloucester, MAFrom $49Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Winter Classic 5K Cambridge, MAFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Woo Jingle 5K and Kids Run Worcester, MAFrom $37Details Sun, Dec 6, 20268th Annual Dreidel Dash 5k & Kids Races Wellesley Hills, MAFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K Haverhill, MAFrom $49Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Medfield Foundation Angel Run Medfield, MARegistration closedFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Winter SOLEstice 5K Run/Walk Wilmington, MAFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Santa Shuffle 5k Longmeadow, MAFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026South Boston Catholic Academy Jingle Bell Run 2026 Boston, MAFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Festivus 5K for Autism Salem, MAFrom $35Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Walter’s Run West Roxbury, MAFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Bill Rodgers Somerville Jingle Bell Run & Walk Somerville, MAFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Every Step Fills a Plate Athol, MAFrom $15Details Wed, Dec 16, 2026Raceday Certification Rowley, MARegistration closedFreeDetails Sat, Dec 19, 2026Mystic Runners Santa Dash Classic Wakefield, MAFrom $35Details Thu, Dec 31, 20262026 Unified 5K Virtual Lancaster, MAFrom $40Details
Common Questions About Running a December 5K in Massachusetts
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 8 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 33:50, and the median winning time was 17:31. So anything under 33:50 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 310 runners, across the 8 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 59:29.