Sat, Nov 28, 2026

Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K

Liverpool, NY

Registration openAnnual since at least 2015

Entry is $40 now and rises to $42 after Oct 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $2.

About the Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K

The course runs through Onondaga Lake Park, the same grounds that host the Lights on the Lake display, so the route passes through the holiday light installation even in daylight. Runners split into two camps before the start, Team Santa or Team Grinch, and the costume element is taken seriously enough that there are prizes for best dressed at the finish.

Packet pickup is available a couple of days before the race at a location to be announced, with a final window on race morning at the Salt Museum, which sits right at the start and finish area. The post-race party moves to a nearby restaurant in Liverpool.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Liverpool on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

392finishers

18:07winner

33:34median

1:13:03cutoff

Top 3: Nicolas Terramiggi (18:07) · Kyle Tassone (18:32) · Tom Byers (18:46)

The Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K has been held every year since at least 2015. 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 Miles11/28/2026 10:00$40

3.1 Miles11/28/2026 10:00$45

3.1 Miles11/28/2026 10:00$48

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Liverpool — 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.

Common Questions About the Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K

Will I finish last at the Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 33:34, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:13:03, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 392 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 Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:07 while the median finisher took 33:34. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.