Monroe County Holiday Lights 5k 2026
- Date
- Tuesday, December 22, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 PM start (Indiana)
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Entry fee
- From $20
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5k Run / Walk | 5K | Dec 22, 20267:00 PM | $20 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $20 until Dec 22.
Online registration closes Dec 22, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Indiana, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Bloomington runs 37:43, about 12:08 a mile, based on 17 races with published results. Women typically finish in 40:53 and men in 31:22.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 8:01 AM, and the 5k Run / Walk starts at 7:00 PM. The start sits about 650 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
5700 W Airport Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401
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 resultsAggregated from official results (Perfect Timing) for Monroe County Holiday Lights 5k. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Monroe County Holiday Lights 5k?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 26:30 or better, the top quarter in 30:24, and half the field in 40:12; the last tenth came in after 59:37.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
How fast is it?
Slower than most Indiana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:24, against 28:30 in a typical Indiana 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 22 the day usually runs from 34°F at dawn to 50°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 28% of days. Cold snaps dip to 20°F and hot years reach 62°F.
Based on 85 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
- 5700 W Airport Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 650 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 23, 2026), 2025 (Dec 24, 2025)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Monroe County Holiday Lights 5k?
- Tuesday, December 22, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $20 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 22, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Indiana?
- At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Indiana, 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.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 343 runners finished the 5k Run / Walk; the median finish was 40:12 and the winner ran 19:10.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:24, against 28:30 in a typical Indiana 5K, so times here run 7 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 5700 W Airport Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401.
From the organizers
The Monroe County Fairgrounds is back again for the 2nd annual Holiday Lights 5k. For year two we are adding a race shirt, timing, and making it a true 5k event. This unique 5k takes you through the fairgrounds holiday lights route 2.5 times and ends at the fairgrounds free stage. Come join us and make this a new holiday family tradition!
This year's event will take place Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
Packet Pickup will start at 6pm and the run/walk will begin at 7pm. Please enter the fairgrounds through gate 4 and try to arrive no later than 6:30 to allow time for the crowd to complete packet pickup. We will try to start promptly at 7pm.