Sun, Dec 13, 2026

Festivus 5K Run

Chesterton, IN

Registration openAnnual since at least 2015

5K1K

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Dec 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Festivus 5K Run

The race starts and finishes at a winery on Broadway in Chesterton, which gives the whole morning a different feel from a typical road race. The course is marked at every turn, and chip timing sends your result by text or email as soon as you cross the finish. Age group awards come in the form of miniature Festivus poles, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Packet pickup runs at a fitness studio in Valparaiso the couple of days before the race, with additional pickup available at the winery on race morning. Awards go out shortly after the last finisher comes in.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

198finishers

18:49winner

32:16median

1:03:41cutoff

Top 3: Michael Loewe (18:49) · Ryan Nix (18:53) · Trevor Arlington (19:13)

The Festivus 5K Run has been held every year since at least 2015. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles12/13/2026 08:30$30

1K12/13/2026 08:10$10

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Festivus 5K Run

Will I finish last at the Festivus 5K Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 32:16, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:03:41, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Festivus 5K Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (198 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Festivus 5K Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:49 while the median finisher took 32:16. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.