Sat, Nov 21, 2026

Santa Scramble 5K

Concord, NC

Opens Aug 1, 2026Annual since at least 2016

Entry is $18 now and rises to $20 after Sep 7, 2026, so registering before then saves $2.

About the Santa Scramble 5K

The Santa Scramble runs through downtown Concord as part of the Christmas parade route, which means the streets are already closed and floats are part of the scenery. It is a point-to-point course, so you start somewhere different from where you finish, ending at McGee Park.

Parking is at Concord High School, where shuttle buses run to the start line throughout the morning, with the last one leaving well before race time. Packet pickup is available on the two evenings before the race at a nearby activity center, and also race morning at the high school gym. There is no pickup at the start line.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

641finishers

15:09winner

30:56median

57:26cutoff

Top 3: ANTHONY FAMIGLIETTI (15:09) · GRADY ANDERSON (15:42) · LUKE ROBERTS (15:52)

The Santa Scramble 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 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 Miles11/21/2026 14:00$18

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 Santa Scramble 5K

Will I finish last at the Santa Scramble 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 30:56, and the last recorded finisher came in around 57:26, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Santa Scramble 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 641 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Santa Scramble 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 15:09 while the median finisher took 30:56. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.