When in December are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in New Jersey is December 5 and December 6, with 11 5K races on those two days, and the single busiest day is Saturday, December 12 with 8. Every one of them is on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Race calendar · December 2026 · New Jersey
December 2026 5K Races in New Jersey
Every 5K in New Jersey in December 2026, all 27 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.
27 5K races in December 2026
What the field actually runs
December 5K Races, By the Numbers
31:54Median finish time
16:24Median winning time
295Median field size
13December 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 Sep 22, 2026.
When in December
The December Race Weekends
5K races do not spread evenly across December. The busiest weekend is December 5 and December 6, with 11 of them.
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.
December 5K Races by City
Soonest 5K Races in December
27 total Sat, Dec 5, 2026Cpt Gregory T Dalessio Memorial 5k Run/Walk Cherry Hill, NJFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run - New Jersey Holmdel, NJFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Haddonfield Snowflake Run Haddonfield, NJFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk Caldwell, NJFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Cranford Santa Run 12/5 10:15 am Cranford, NJFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Asbury Park Santa Run Asbury Park, NJFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026The Chris Conway Memorial Run and 1 Mile Walk Ridgefield Park, NJFrom $35Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Elf 'N' Cocoa 8K/5K & 1 Mile Fun Run West Deptford, NJFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 6, 20262026 Montclair Doughnut Run Montclair, NJFrom $50Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Racefaster through the Mall: Santa Run East Rutherford, NJFrom $45Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Hammonton Rotary's Galloping Grinch's 5K Hammonton, NJFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Hoboken's Jingle Bell 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run Hoboken, NJFrom $25Details
Common Questions About Running a December 5K in New Jersey
When should I sign up for a December 5K?
As early as you can. 13 of these December 5K races already have a price increase on the calendar, and 26 are open for entry right now. Another 1 have published an opening date and have not opened yet.
How much does a December 5K cost to enter?
The typical entry is $30, with paid entries running from $20 up to $50. Entry fees climb as race day gets closer, so the same race is usually cheapest the week it opens.
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 13 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 31:54, and the median winning time was 16:24. So anything under 31:54 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 295 runners, across the 13 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 1:02:15.
Are there trail 5K races in New Jersey in December?
Yes, 2 races around New Jersey get you off the pavement: 1 is a trail race, and 1 mixes road and trail. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
5K Races in Other Months
November and January sit either side of December, which is where most people look next when a date does not fit.