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5KKids

Jingle Bell Trot 2026

Date
Thursday, December 3, 2026
Start time
6:00 PM start (New York)
Entry fee
From $20 · goes up to $30 on Nov 15, 2026
Included with entry
Includes a shirt
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
Fun Run/WalkKidsDec 3, 20266:00 PM$25$30 after Nov 15, 2026–
Fun Run/Walk Bangert Students/StaffKidsDec 3, 20266:00 PM$20–
5K5KDec 3, 20266:30 PM$25$30 after Nov 15, 2026–
5K Bangert Students/Staff5KDec 3, 20266:30 PM$20–

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

Register on RunSignup

The Kids fee goes up to $30 on Nov 15, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • Fun Run/Walk and 5K: $25 until Nov 14, then $30 until Nov 29, then $35 until Dec 2, then $40 until Dec 3.
  • Fun Run/Walk Bangert Students/Staff and 5K Bangert Students/Staff: $20 until Dec 3.

Online registration closes Dec 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $25, entry is about 17 percent below 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 6:59 AM, and the Fun Run/Walk starts at 6:00 PM. The start sits about 30 feet above sea level.

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

Start location and course

3712 Canterbury Road, Trent Woods, NC 28562

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

115
finishers
32:24
median (10:26 /mi)
18:36
winning time
53% / 47%
women / men
median 32:2420:041:01:08
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Aggregated from official results (Run The East LLC) for Jingle Bell Trot. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at Jingle Bell Trot?

In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 25:45 or better, the top quarter in 28:29, and half the field in 32:24; the last tenth came in after 46:54.

Third place by age group, 2025 5K
AgeWomenMen
Under 2032:1522:53
20-2929:38n/a
30-3930:1723:08
40-4936:5929:27
60-6946:33n/a

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 21 percent since 2021.

All events combined, from official results.

Jingle Bell Trot 5K year by year

From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 95 to 115 finishers, and the median time rose from 31:02 to 32:24.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
2025115 (-28%)32:24under 25:4518:36
2024160 (+27%)32:15under 23:4419:44
2023126 (+11%)32:41under 24:5920:05
2022114 (+20%)34:47under 26:1519:18
20219531:02under 23:5219:47

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

How fast is it?

About average for North Carolina 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:29, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 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 3 the day usually runs from 43°F at dawn to 59°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 13% of days. Cold snaps dip to 32°F and hot years reach 71°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 Jingle Bell Trot cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

Event Timed by Run The East, LLC

This event is timed by Run the East! With professional race timing services and a focus on delivering accurate results,. we’re here to make your race day seamless and enjoyable. Learn more at runtheeast.com.

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
3712 Canterbury Road, Trent Woods, NC 28562Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 30 feet
Included with entry
T-shirt
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
5K, Kids
Editions
2026 (Dec 3, 2026), 2025 (Dec 4, 2025), 2024 (Dec 5, 2024), 2023 (Dec 7, 2023), 2022 (Dec 8, 2022), 2021 (Dec 9, 2021)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

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Quick answers

When is Jingle Bell Trot?
Thursday, December 3, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $20 before processing fees, and rises to $30 on Nov 15, 2026.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Dec 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for North Carolina?
At $25, entry is about 17 percent below 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, Kids.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2025, 115 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 32:24 and the winner ran 18:36.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:29, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here are about average.
Where does it start?
3712 Canterbury Road, Trent Woods, NC 28562.

From the organizers

✨ Run the Lights of Canterbury ✨

Join us for a magical, family-friendly 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk down the beautifully lit streets of Canterbury Road in Trent Woods.

Event Schedule:

1-Mile Fun Run/Walk: 6:00 PM

5K Run: 6:30 PM

Registration Fees:

Now – Nov. 15: $25

Nov. 16 – Nov. 30: $30

Dec. 1 – Dec. 3: $35

Race Day (Dec. 4): $40

Register by Nov. 18 to guarantee your event T-shirt!

Packet Pickup:

Early Pickup: Dec. 3 | 4:00–6:00 PM | Bangert Elementary School

Race Day Pickup: Dec. 4 | 12:00–2:30 PM & 3:30–5:30 PM

Parking:

Read the full description on RunSignup