About the Santa's 5K Fun Run
The course starts and ends at a fire station, heading out on the southbound lane of a road called Old Madison before turning around and coming back. It is an out-and-back on a public street, so the surface is pavement throughout. Runners are encouraged to wear holiday costumes, and that energy tends to spread through the field.
Packet pickup happens the evening before at a local running store, Tri-State Running Co., where you collect your bib and bag. Race morning, the fire station serves as the start area, so parking and the start line are in the same place.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
Get races near Independence in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Distances & Start Times
3.1 Miles12/5/2026 13:00$30
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.
Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Independence — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.
