Sat, Dec 5, 2026

2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual

Trumbull, CT

Opens Oct 10, 202638th annual

5K1.2 Miles500 Yards

Entry is $23 now and rises to $26 after Nov 7, 2026, so registering before then saves $3.

About the 2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual

The course rolls through the Nichols neighborhood, moving past churches and past the local firehouse. It is hilly enough to feel like a real effort, and the holiday costume contest gives the crowd plenty to watch while they wait. A kids' fun run goes off before the main race, so families are already warmed up and in good spirits by the time the starting announcements begin.

Packet pickup runs the two evenings before the race at the NIA Starkweather House on Huntington Turnpike, with race-morning pickup also available. Parking is in the field behind the gazebo at that same address, with overflow behind a nearby church; volunteers direct traffic to both spots. The start is at Nichols United Methodist Church, and post-race snacks and drinks follow at a gathering called the Jingle Mingle.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2025 results

319finishers

16:18winner

32:41median

56:12cutoff

Top 3: Joseph DeLuise (16:18) · MJ DeMartin (17:21) · Rexton Mlynarski (18:52)

The 2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual is in its 38th year.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

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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

5K12/5/2026 09:30$32

5K12/5/2026 09:30$23

1.2 Miles12/5/2026 09:30$25

500 Yards12/5/2026 09:05Free

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Common Questions About the 2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual

Will I finish last at the 2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:41, and the last recorded finisher came in around 56:12, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the 2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual a good first 5K?

A field of 319 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. 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 2026 NIA Jingle Bell Run - 38th Annual?

The 5K winner ran 16:18 while the median finisher took 32:41. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.