Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K 2026
- Date
- Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Haverhill, Massachusetts
- Entry fee
- From $49 · goes up to $54 on Nov 7, 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
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5K | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $49$54 after Nov 7, 2026 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $99$109 after Nov 7, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $49$54 after Nov 7, 2026 | 5 |
| Virtual Half MarathonVirtual | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $99$109 after Nov 7, 2026 | 5 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $54 on Nov 7, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K: $49 until Nov 6, then $54 until Nov 29, then $59 until Dec 6.
- Half Marathon: $99 until Nov 6, then $109 until Nov 29, then $119 until Dec 6.
Online registration closes Dec 6, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $99, entry is about 11 percent above a typical half marathon in Massachusetts, which costs $89 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Massachusetts runs 2:05:41, about 9:35 a mile, based on 26 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:11:27 and men in 1:57:33.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:59 AM, and the 5K starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 190 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
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 (2 years)Half Marathon
5K
Aggregated from official results (Bay State Race Services) for Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K?
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:38:24 or better, the top quarter in 1:50:41, and half the field in 2:03:13; the last tenth came in after 2:35:57.
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 25:15 or better, the top quarter in 29:42, and half the field in 34:20; the last tenth came in after 49:15.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:45:25 | 1:34:02 |
| 20-29 | 1:29:32 | 1:20:50 |
| 30-39 | 1:34:57 | 1:21:44 |
| 40-49 | 1:28:11 | 1:31:45 |
| 50-59 | 1:41:59 | 1:29:38 |
| 60-69 | 2:00:27 | 1:47:10 |
| 70+ | n/a | 2:05:26 |
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 49 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K Half Marathon year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 583 to 857 finishers, and the median time rose from 2:01:15 to 2:03:13.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 857 (+47%) | 2:03:13 | under 1:38:24 | 1:16:03 |
| 2024 | 583 | 2:01:15 | under 1:37:33 | 1:18:54 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Massachusetts half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:50:41, against 1:52:53 in a typical Massachusetts half marathon, so times here are about average.
- 5K: Slower than most Massachusetts 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:42, against 27:46 in a typical Massachusetts 5K, so times here run 7 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 December 6 the day usually runs from 27°F at dawn to 42°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 28% of days. Cold snaps dip to 19°F and hot years reach 57°F.
Based on 65 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
- 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 190 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 6, 2026), 2025 (Dec 7, 2025), 2024 (Dec 8, 2024)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K?
- Sunday, December 6, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $49 before processing fees, and rises to $54 on Nov 7, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 6, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Massachusetts?
- At $99, entry is about 11 percent above a typical half marathon in Massachusetts, which costs $89 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, Half Marathon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 857 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:03:13 and the winner ran 1:16:03.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:50:41, against 1:52:53 in a typical Massachusetts half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
From the organizers
Grab your holly and prepare to get jolly at the 14th annual Jingle Bell Half Marathon & 5K! Join us on Sunday, December 6th, 2026 in Haverhill, MA for the merriest race in Massachusetts. Walk (or run) this Christmas season in a winter wonderland through gorgeous New England landscapes as you jingle all the way to the finish line at Northern Essex Community College.