Sat, Dec 19, 2026

New Canaan Santa Run

New Canaan, CT

Opens Oct 1, 2026Annual since at least 2021

5K1 Mile200 Yards

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Dec 13, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the New Canaan Santa Run

The course runs through Waveny Park, starting and finishing at a historic building the locals call the Castle. The park has open fields and groomed trails, and the surroundings feel genuinely quiet for a race morning, with trees and open land on most sides. The terrain is gentle enough that families with kids run it regularly alongside people chasing the timed result.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at the Lodge near the dog park and paddle courts inside Waveny Park, with a second window on race morning behind the Castle. Parking is plentiful and close to the start. After the run, snacks and drinks are set out, and Santa is around for photos before and after the race.

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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

177finishers

16:39winner

30:55median

55:34cutoff

Top 3: Jon Pedersen Jr (16:39) · MJ DeMartin (16:48) · Michael McGonnigle (17:14)

The New Canaan Santa Run has been held every year since at least 2021. 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 Sep 22, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/19/2026 09:30$30

1 Mile12/19/2026 09:30$30

200 Yards12/19/2026 09:15Free

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 New Canaan Santa Run

Will I finish last at the New Canaan Santa Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 30:55, and the last recorded finisher came in around 55:34, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the New Canaan Santa Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (177 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 New Canaan Santa Run?

The 5K winner ran 16:39 while the median finisher took 30:55. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.