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ChristmasTown 5K 2026

Date
Saturday, November 28, 2026
Start time
6:00 PM start (New York)
Entry fee
From $50 · goes up to $60 on Oct 1, 2026
Included with entry
Includes a shirt
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
Register on RunSignup

Registration is open.

Likely to sell out. 1,399 finished the 5K in 2022, and this year's cap is 1,350.

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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
2026 ChristmasTown 5K5KNov 28, 20266:00 PM$50$60 after Oct 1, 20261,350
ChristmasTown 5K Reserved Entry5KNov 28, 20266:00 PM$50150

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

Register on RunSignup

The 5K fee goes up to $60 on Oct 1, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • 2026 ChristmasTown 5K: $50 until Sep 30, then $60 until Nov 28.
  • ChristmasTown 5K Reserved Entry: $50 until Nov 28.

Online registration closes Nov 28, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $50, entry is about 67 percent above a typical 5K in North Carolina, which costs $30 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in North Carolina runs 35:28, about 11:25 a mile, based on 761 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:55 and men in 31:23.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:11 AM, and the 2026 ChristmasTown 5K starts at 6:00 PM. The start sits about 580 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

Main Street, McAdenville, NC 28101

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.

1,399
finishers
42:59
median (13:52 /mi)
15:50
winning time
–
women / men
median 42:5919:151:09:44
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Aggregated from official results for ChristmasTown 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at ChristmasTown 5K?

In 2022, the fastest tenth finished in 26:39 or better, the top quarter in 32:42, and half the field in 42:59; the last tenth came in after 1:01:39.

What would my time get me?

Where a finish time would have placed in 2022.

Finishers by year

Up 39 percent since 2021.

All events combined, from official results.

ChristmasTown 5K 5K year by year

From 2021 to 2022, the field went from 1,003 to 1,399 finishers, and the median time rose from 40:02 to 42:59.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
20221,399 (+39%)42:59under 26:3915:50
20211,00340:02under 25:4516:47

From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.

How fast is it?

Slower than most North Carolina 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2022 5K field finished under 32:42, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here run 14 percent slower.

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 November 28 the day usually runs from 38°F at dawn to 57°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 15% of days. Cold snaps dip to 29°F and hot years reach 69°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.

From the race's page

What the organizers of ChristmasTown 5K cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

Packet Pick Up

PHARR YMCA 208 Main Street, McAdenville. Please arrive during one of the following times to pick up your bib and shirt. Come in the front door that faces Main Street. You can park in front of the building, in the church lot beside it, or…

Schedule and packet pickup

Race Day Timeline

2:00 PM - Packet pick up begins. 4:30 PM - Packet pick up closes. 5:00 PM - All roads in McAdenville close to traffic. 5:30 PM - Costume contest begins in front of YMCA on Plaza. 6:00 PM - Race begins. 6:15 PM - Start line closes; all…

Awards

Awards

We only gift medals to the overall winners and winners in each category. We do not provide finisher medals. We will award the top three male and female overall winners. We will then award the top three finishers for both males and females…

Rules and FAQ

Bib Transfers/Refunds

This event is rain or shine, and no refunds will be given. You may officially transfer your race entry to another non-registered runner before 5 PM on Race Day. Please initiate a bib transfer if anyone other than you plans on running with…

Rules and FAQ

FAQ

When is this event? The 3.1 mile run starts promptly at 6:00 PM on Saturday, November 30. The start/finish line is on Main Street in downtown McAdenville. All participants will be expected to be at the start line with their bibs visible…

Rules and FAQ

Weather Policy

This event will proceed rain or shine. In the event of threatening weather, we reserve the right to alter/postpone/cancel the event till further notice.

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
Main Street, McAdenville, NC 28101Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 580 feet
Included with entry
Unisex Long-Sleeve Shirt
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
5K
Editions
2026 (Nov 28, 2026), 2025 (Nov 29, 2025), 2024 (Nov 30, 2024), 2023 (Nov 25, 2023), 2022 (Nov 26, 2022), 2021 (Nov 27, 2021)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is ChristmasTown 5K?
Saturday, November 28, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $50 before processing fees, and rises to $60 on Oct 1, 2026.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Nov 28, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for North Carolina?
At $50, entry is about 67 percent above a typical 5K in North Carolina, which costs $30 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?
5K.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2022, 1,399 runners finished the 2022 ChristmasTown 5K; the median finish was 42:59 and the winner ran 15:50.
Does it sell out?
It can. 1,399 runners finished the 5K in 2022, close to this year's cap of 1,350, so register early.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2022 5K field finished under 32:42, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here run 14 percent slower.
Where does it start?
Main Street, McAdenville, NC 28101.

From the organizers

Kick off your holiday with the most festive 5K this side of the North Pole! Run through one of the world's most popular destinations for Christmas lights and feel the holiday spirit. It's a party you don't want to miss!