Sat, Oct 24, 2026

Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K

CONCORD, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2016

5K1 Mile

Entry is $10 now and rises to $15 after Oct 15, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K

The course runs through Frank Liske Park on Halloween Eve, starting around dusk, so the light is fading by the time most runners finish. The park setting gives it a wooded, seasonal feel that fits the time of year. A fun run goes off first, then the main race follows shortly after in the darkening evening.

Packet pickup is available the day before at the park office, with a second window on race day afternoon near the Homebuilder Shelter before the start. Race-day registration is also available there. The costume element is real: awards go to the best-dressed runners, male and female, so showing up in a Halloween outfit is worth the effort.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

183finishers

18:37winner

34:18median

1:06:17cutoff

Top 3: MARSHALL LOVE (18:37) · ANDY GORDON (19:01) · TRAVIS POINTS JR (19:11)

The Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K has been held every year since at least 2016. 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 5K 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

5K10/24/2026 17:30$25

1 Mile10/24/2026 17:00$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

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Common Questions About the Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K

Will I finish last at the Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:18, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:06:17, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K a good first 5K?

It is a small race (183 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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt 5K?

The 5K winner ran 18:37 while the median finisher took 34:18. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.