Christmas and holiday runs in California 2026
December's holiday runs: jingle bell 5Ks, Santa runs and ugly-sweater races, usually short, often in costume, and a good excuse for a winter race. 75 christmas and holiday runs in California. Dates, distances and how competitive each field is.
- Sat, Dec 5Friday Night Live Reindeer Run 5KSan Luis Obispo5K
- Sat, Dec 5Jingle Bell Run - Orange CountyAnaheim5K10K
- Sat, Dec 5Reindeer RompChino5K
- Sat, Dec 52026 Jingle Bell Run - Orange County & Inland EmpireAnaheim5K10K Competitive
- Sat, Dec 5Chino Valley YMCA Reindeer Romp 5KChino5K
- Sat, Dec 516th Annual Reindeer Run/WalkAmerican Canyon5K10K Competitive
- Sat, Dec 52026 Jingle Bell Run - Los Angeles, CALos Angeles5K Competitive
- Sat, Dec 5Stockton Santa Dash! 5K & 10KStockton5K10K
- Sun, Dec 6Jingle Bell DashHuntington Beach5K10K
- Sun, Dec 637th Annual Lopers Club Holiday Classic Half Marathon, 10K, and 5KLoma Linda5K10KHalf marathon Local
- Sun, Dec 6Jingle Bell Jog – 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half MarathonLong Beach5K10KHalf marathon Local
- Sun, Dec 6Jingle Bell Dash Kids Dash, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon & Santa Paws Doggie RunHuntington Beach5K10KHalf marathon
- Sun, Dec 6Reindeer Run 5k Fun RunUnion City5K
- Sun, Dec 6Ohana Holiday RunSan Diego5K
- Sun, Dec 6Santa Runs Griffith ParkLos Angeles5K10K Local
- Sun, Dec 6Jingle Bell 5k, 10k, 15k, Half MarathonValencia5K10KHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 1212Ks of ChristmasRedding
- Sat, Dec 12Chase Santa 5KLompoc5K
- Sat, Dec 12Holiday Fun Half MarathonVan NuysHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 12Holiday Half MarathonGoletaHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 12Holiday Hustle 5K, 10K LivermoreLivermore5K10K
- Sat, Dec 12Jingle Paws 5KPalm Springs5K
- Sat, Dec 12Ontario 5K Reindeer RunOntario5K Local
- Sat, Dec 12PAL Holiday RunRancho Cordova5K10K
- Sat, Dec 12Santa Monica-Venice Christmas RunSanta Monica5K10K Local
- Sat, Dec 12Santa RunSan Diego5K
- Sat, Dec 12‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS 5K/10K’ (Los Angeles, CA)Los Angeles5K10K Local
- Sat, Dec 12Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10KHuntington Beach5K10K Local
- Sat, Dec 1250th Annual Holiday Run and Walk for HealthAntioch5K Very competitive
- Sat, Dec 12Jingle Bell Run for Toys for TotsFresno5K Local
- Sat, Dec 12Holiday Half Marathon, 10K (6.65 miles), 5K, Fun Run (1 mile)Goleta5K10KHalf marathon Very competitive
- Sat, Dec 12JINGLE PAWS 5K & ELF DASHPalm Springs5K Very competitive
- Sun, Dec 13Fleet Feet Free Holiday ClassicSacramento5K
- Sun, Dec 13Grinchmas Family Fun Run/WalkSanta Maria5K10K
- Sun, Dec 13Jingle Bell 5KSausalito5K
- Sun, Dec 13Reindeer Run Riverside Half MarathonRiversideHalf marathon
- Sun, Dec 132026 Jingle Bell Run - San Diego, CASan Diego5K
- Sun, Dec 13Santa's Toy Trot – 5K, 10K, Half MarathonSanta Monica5K10KHalf marathon Local
- Sun, Dec 13Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5KOxnard5KHalf marathonMarathon
- Sun, Dec 13Santa Hustle RosevilleRoseville5K10KHalf marathon Local
- Sun, Dec 13The Krew Runner's 3rd Annual Santa Con RunSalinas5K10K
- Sun, Dec 13Homeless for the Holidays 5K Run / 2.5K Walk L.A.Los Angeles5K Local
- Sun, Dec 132026 Annual Sausalito Jingle Bell 5KSausalito5K
- Sun, Dec 13Silicon Valley Santa RunSan Jose5K Local
- Sun, Dec 132026 Grinchmas Family Fun Run/Walk - Benefitting Central Coast Running Club and People for Leisure and Youth, Inc. (PLAY, Inc) eventSanta Maria5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19Holiday Hustle 5K, 10K SacramentoSacramento5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19Jingle Bell JogNewbury Park5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19MVRRC 13th Annual Jingle Bell Holiday Run 1-M, 5K and 10KPerris5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19MVRRC Jingle Bell 5K and 10KPerris5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19Reindeer Run GP Half MarathonLos AngelesHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 19Venice Beach Holiday Run - 5K 10KVenice5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5KSan Diego5KHalf marathon Very competitive
- Sat, Dec 19Venice Beach Holiday Run - 5K 10KVenice5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19MVRRC 13th Annual Jingle Bell Holiday Run 1-M, 5K and 10KPerris5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19Santa Runs Palm SpringsPalm Springs5K Competitive
- Sat, Dec 19‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS 5K/10K’ (San Diego, CA)Escondido5K10K Local
- Sat, Dec 19Jingle Bell Jog 5k/10k Run-Walk at Dos VientosNewbury Park5K10K
- Sat, Dec 19Bakersfield Jingle Bell Run for Toys for TotsBakersfield5K Local
- Sat, Dec 19Jingle JogPalmdale5K
- Sat, Dec 19Santa Beer Run & Kids Elf RunExeter
- Sat, Dec 19Auburn Santa Run/Walk 5kAuburn5K
- Sun, Dec 20Chasing Santa 5K, 10K, 10M, and Half MarathonLong BeachHalf marathon
- Sun, Dec 20Holiday Half MarathonLong BeachHalf marathon
- Sun, Dec 20Chasing Santa – 5K, 10K, 10-Miler, Half MarathonLong Beach5K10KHalf marathon Very competitive
- Sun, Dec 20Reindeer Run LB 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathonlong beach5K10KHalf marathon
- Sun, Dec 20Santa’s Reindeer Run - 3rd Annual- 5K, 10K, and Half MarathonHuntington Beach5K10KHalf marathon Competitive
- Thu, Dec 24Placerville's Holiday Jingle and Mingle RunPlacerville5K10K
- Fri, Dec 25Jingle All the Way - Christmas DayLong Beach5K10K
- Fri, Dec 25Jingle All the Way - Christmas Day 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Kids Dash by Califlow RunsLong Beach5K10KHalf marathon Local
- Sat, Dec 26A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 LOS ANGELESLos Angeles5K10KHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 26A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SACRAMENTOSacramento5K10KHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 26A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN DIEGOSan Diego5K10KHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 26A Merry Christmas Run 5K/10K/13.1 SAN FRANCISCOSan Mateo5K10KHalf marathon
- Sat, Dec 26Happy Holidays 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathonlong beach5K10KHalf marathon
- Mon, Dec 28Holiday Bowl 5KSan Diego5K Very competitive
Christmas and holiday runs by state
Alabama 34Arizona 19Arkansas 22California 75Colorado 18Connecticut 14Delaware 5Washington, DC 9Florida 179Georgia 59Hawaii 6Idaho 4Illinois 33Indiana 19Iowa 11Kansas 8Kentucky 23Louisiana 19Maine 4Maryland 25Massachusetts 17Michigan 36Minnesota 5Mississippi 10Missouri 25Montana 2Nebraska 6Nevada 6New Hampshire 4New Jersey 24New Mexico 2New York 40North Carolina 64North Dakota 2Ohio 48Oklahoma 19Oregon 9Pennsylvania 44Rhode Island 2South Carolina 22South Dakota 1Tennessee 44Texas 124Utah 10Virginia 46Washington 42West Virginia 9Wisconsin 11Wyoming 3
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Common questions
How long is a holiday run?
Most are 5Ks: 89% of the christmas and holiday runs in California have one. 41 offer a 10K and 24 offer a Half marathon. Many add a kids' run or a 1-mile walk.
Which holiday run in California has the fastest field?
By past results, San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K in San Diego, then JINGLE PAWS 5K & ELF DASH. Field strength compares the front of each race's field with every other race at that distance.
Where would I place in a holiday run?
Open any race with past results and enter your time: raceIQ compares you with that race's past finishers in your age group. With a free account it ranks every race near you by where you'd likely finish.