When in December are most 5K races held?
The busiest weekend in North Carolina is December 5 and December 6, with 26 of them, 22 of those on Saturday, December 5. Another 4 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Race calendar · December 2026 · North Carolina
5K Races in North Carolina in December 2026
Every 5K in North Carolina in December 2026, all 66 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
34:53Median finish time
18:12Median winning time
119Median field size
42December 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.
North Carolina 5K Races by City in December
All 5K Runs in North Carolina in December
66 total Thu, Dec 3, 2026Jingle Bell Trot Trent Woods, NCFrom $20Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle New Bern, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Randolph County Young Life Winter Sprinter 5k Asheboro, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Jingle Bell Rockin' Run Kings Mountain, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Reindeer Romp 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Jamestown, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Jingle All the Way 5K Mint Hill, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K Wilmington, NCFrom $65Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Mistletoe Run Winston Salem, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Into the Woods 5K Chapel Hill, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Freeze Your Buns Run 5K Spencer, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run Cary, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Trail to Tryon Holiday Half, 10K & 5K New Bern, NCFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Robeson County Holiday 5k and Fun Mile Lumberton, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Jingle Bell Jaunt Fun Run Mount Gilead, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 5, 20263rd Belarusian Carolinas Trails Friends Run 1M & 5K Charlotte, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Holiday 5K & 13.1M at Hickory, NC (49) Hickory, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (49) Charlotte, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Reindeer Stampede 5k/Fun Run Richlands, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026White Elephant 5k FUN RUN Jacksonville, NCFrom $15Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Rocky Mount, NC (49) Rocky Mount, NCFrom $30Register Sat, Dec 5, 2026Rise Run For Missions Nashville, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026The Center for Women's 21st Annual 5K Reindeer Run Brevard, NCFrom $27Details Sat, Dec 5, 2026Elves for Enka 5k Candler, NCFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026William H. Craig Race for Life 5K and 10K Wilmington, NCFrom $28Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Locust Elfie 5K Run/Walk Locust, NCFrom $35Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Carolina Ugly Sweater 5k Walk/Run & 1k Elf Run Cornelius, NCFrom $35Details Sun, Dec 6, 2026Downtown Jingle Jog 5K Greensboro, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Santa Dash 5K & 1 Mile Walk Greenville, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Reindeer Run 5K Pittsboro, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Jingle Bell LEAP 5K Durham, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Santa's 5K Run/Walk - Official NC Bigfoot Christmas Reunion Mt. Ulla, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Fortnight Before Christmas Cary, NCFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Dashing Thru The Glow Wilmington, NCFrom $20Details Sat, Dec 12, 202616th Annual Twinkle Toes 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Star, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 12, 20262026 Jingle Bell Run Charlotte, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M at Concord, NC (50) Concord, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Santa Shuffle 5k & 1 Mile Fayetteville, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Holiday 5K & 10K at Raleigh, NC (50) Raleigh, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (50) Winston-Salem, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026SOHO-HO AND AWAY WE GO! Ocean Isle Beach, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Lights & Sirens Race for Hope for Special Olympics North Carolina Concord, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Santa's Soccer Sprint Goldsboro, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 12, 2026Jolly Jog 5K Fun Run/Walk Durham, NCFrom $25Details Sun, Dec 13, 202613th Annual Jingle Run 5K Troutman, NCFrom $30Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Be the Light 5K Forest City, NCFrom $25Details Sun, Dec 13, 2026Jingle Jingle Jingle All The Way 5k Statesville, NCFreeDetails Sat, Dec 19, 2026Jingle Jog 5K Winston-Salem, NCFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026MOTM and MWC Reindeer Run 5K Mebane, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Santa Run 8K/5K & Snowman Dash Charlotte, NCFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Frosty 5k Lincolnton, NCFrom $40Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Suggly Sweater 5K Holly Springs, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Wilmington, NC (51) Wilmington, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Holiday 5K & 13.1M at Raleigh, NC (51) Raleigh, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (51) Winston-Salem, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (51) Charlotte, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026JKL AERO 5K Raleigh, NCRegistration opens Dec 19From $0Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Santa Shuffle Fletcher, NCFrom $45Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Rise and Grind Fitness Ugly Sweater 5K Lillington, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Not Your Ordinary 5k - HYROX SIM Carrboro, NCFrom $25Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Winter Wonderland 5K Newport, NCFrom $35Details Sat, Dec 19, 2026Run For One Goldsboro, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (52) Charlotte, NCFrom $30Details Sat, Dec 26, 2026Holiday 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Boone, NC (52) Boone, NCFrom $30Details Wed, Dec 30, 2026Fifty 5Ks Finisher Party - FINALE! Durham, NCFreeDetails Thu, Dec 31, 2026NOON Year's Eve 5K 2026 Charlotte, NCFrom $40Details Thu, Dec 31, 2026Resolution Run Greensboro, NCFreeDetails
Common Questions About Running a December 5K in North Carolina
What is a good 5K time?
Across the 42 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 34:53, and the median winning time was 18:12. So anything under 34:53 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 119 runners, across the 42 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 1:02:37.
Are there trail 5K races in North Carolina in December?
Yes, 2 races around North Carolina get you off the pavement: 2 mix road and trail.