Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk 2026
- Date
- Wednesday, December 2, 2026
- Start time
- 5:45 PM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Evansville, Indiana
- Entry fee
- From $5 · goes up to $30 on Nov 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Lights 5K | Other | Dec 2, 20265:45 PM | $25$30 after Nov 1, 2026 | – |
| Bright Lights 1-Mile Walk | 1 Mile | Dec 2, 20266:30 PM | $5 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Other fee goes up to $30 on Nov 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Bright Lights 5K: $25 until Nov 1, then $30 until Dec 2.
- Bright Lights 1-Mile Walk: $5 until Dec 2.
Online registration closes Dec 2, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $5, entry is about 75 percent below a typical 1-mile race in Indiana, which costs $20 right now.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:48 AM, and the Bright Lights 5K starts at 5:45 PM. The start sits about 380 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
23 Don Mattingly Way, Evansville, IN 47711
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (4 years)Aggregated from official results (To The Finish) for Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 22:55 or better, the top quarter in 27:26, and half the field in 33:16; the last tenth came in after 48:58.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 21:51 | 19:12 |
| 20-29 | 26:34 | 22:34 |
| 30-39 | 27:40 | 17:42 |
| 40-49 | 25:06 | 22:22 |
| 50-59 | 28:32 | 23:45 |
| 60-69 | 30:35 | 24:51 |
| 70+ | 43:21 | 44:14 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 89 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk Other year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 284 to 407 finishers, and the median time dropped from 33:58 to 33:16.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 407 (-5%) | 33:16 | under 22:55 | 15:31 |
| 2024 | 427 (+50%) | 35:08 | under 23:26 | 16:14 |
| 2023 | 284 | 33:58 | under 23:13 | 16:20 |
From each year's official results for the Other; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Indiana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2021 5K field finished under 27:39, against 28:30 in a typical Indiana 5K, so times here are about average.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around December 2 the day usually runs from 31°F at dawn to 48°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 27% of days. Cold snaps dip to 24°F and hot years reach 60°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 23 Don Mattingly Way, Evansville, IN 47711Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 380 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 2, 2026), 2025 (Dec 3, 2025), 2024 (Dec 4, 2024), 2023 (Dec 6, 2023), 2022 (Dec 7, 2022), 2021 (Dec 1, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Bright Lights 5K & 1 Mile Walk?
- Wednesday, December 2, 2026, starting at 5:45 PM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $5 before processing fees, and rises to $30 on Nov 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 2, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Indiana?
- At $5, entry is about 75 percent below a typical 1-mile race in Indiana, which costs $20 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 1 Mile, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 407 runners finished the Bright Lights 5K/ Walk; the median finish was 33:16 and the winner ran 15:31.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2021 5K field finished under 27:39, against 28:30 in a typical Indiana 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 23 Don Mattingly Way, Evansville, IN 47711.
From the organizers
Join us for the Bright Lights 5K & 1-Mile Walk benefiting Easterseals!
This is the ONLY night when Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights is closed to vehicle and carriage traffic and open exclusively to runners, walkers, and individuals using mobility equipment!
🚫 NO CARRIAGE RIDES
There will be no carriage rides during the Bright Lights 5K & 1-Mile Walk.
🐾 NO DOGS
Dogs are not permitted at the event, with the exception of service dogs.
🌟 Two Events. One Registration!
Registered for the 5K? You’re automatically invited to enjoy the 1-Mile Walk at no additional cost!