Monroe Jingle Bell Classic 2026
- Date
- Saturday, December 19, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Monroe, Louisiana
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $65 on Dec 19, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Jingle Bell Classic Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 19, 20268:00 AM | $60$65 after Dec 19, 2026 | – |
| Virtual Monroe Jingle Bell Classic Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 19, 20268:00 AM | $60 | – |
| Monroe Jingle Bell Classic 5K | 5K | Dec 19, 20268:30 AM | $30$35 after Dec 19, 2026 | – |
| Virtual Monroe Jingle Bell Classic 5k | 5K | Dec 19, 20268:30 AM | $30$35 after Dec 19, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Half Marathon fee goes up to $65 on Dec 19, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Monroe Jingle Bell Classic Half Marathon: $60 until Dec 19, then $65 until Dec 19.
- Virtual Monroe Jingle Bell Classic Half Marathon: $60 until Dec 19.
- Monroe Jingle Bell Classic 5K and Virtual Monroe Jingle Bell Classic 5k: $30 until Dec 19, then $35 until Dec 19.
Online registration closes Dec 19, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $60, entry is about the same as a typical half marathon in Louisiana ($65).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Louisiana runs 2:15:11, about 10:19 a mile, based on 17 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:23:53 and men in 2:04:46.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:04 AM, and the Monroe Jingle Bell Classic Half Marathon starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 70 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Forysthe Park, Monroe, LA 71201
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results (2 years)Monroe Jingle Bell Run 5K
Monroe Jingle Bell Run Half Marathon
Aggregated from official results for Monroe Jingle Bell Classic. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Monroe Jingle Bell Classic?
At the 2025 Monroe Jingle Bell Run 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:02 or better, the top quarter in 28:00, and half the field in 34:02; the last tenth came in after 49:22.
At the 2025 Monroe Jingle Bell Run Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:29:24 or better, the top quarter in 1:43:26, and half the field in 2:01:41; the last tenth came in after 2:38:02.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 24:49 | 20:48 |
| 20-29 | 27:51 | 22:02 |
| 30-39 | 24:49 | 23:44 |
| 40-49 | 31:20 | 23:50 |
| 50-59 | 36:08 | 35:13 |
| 60-69 | 36:09 | n/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 34 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Monroe Jingle Bell Classic 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 191 to 229 finishers, and the median time dropped from 34:15 to 34:02.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 229 (+20%) | 34:02 | under 24:02 | 19:06 |
| 2024 | 191 | 34:15 | under 25:08 | 17:45 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Louisiana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:00, against 28:43 in a typical Louisiana 5K, so times here are about average.
- Half Marathon: Faster than most Louisiana half marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:43:26, against 1:54:59 in a typical Louisiana half marathon, so times here run 10 percent faster.
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 19 the day usually runs from 41°F at dawn to 62°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 23% of days. Cold snaps dip to 29°F and hot years reach 76°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
- Forysthe Park, Monroe, LA 71201Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 70 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve Shirt; Long Sleeve T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 19, 2026), 2025 (Dec 13, 2025), 2024 (Dec 14, 2024), 2023 (Dec 16, 2023), 2022 (Dec 17, 2022), 2021 (Dec 18, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Monroe Jingle Bell Classic?
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $65 on Dec 19, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 19, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Louisiana?
- At $60, entry is about the same as a typical half marathon in Louisiana ($65).
- 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, 229 runners finished the Monroe Jingle Bell Run 5K; the median finish was 34:02 and the winner ran 19:06.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:00, against 28:43 in a typical Louisiana 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Forysthe Park, Monroe, LA 71201.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on MapMyRun; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Join us for another great Monroe Jingle Bell Run 5K and Half-Marathon. With this event, we aim to encourage our community to embrace a more active lifestyle while also supporting our local Scouting programs. The race will begin and end in Forsythe Park.
The Monroe Jingle Bell Run will raise funds to support local Scouts in Northeast & Central Louisiana including our programs for at-risk youth and scholarships to Camp T.L. James and Camp Attakapas. It will help ensure that EVERY youth has the opportunity to be part of a great organization that will develop our future leaders of tomorrow no matter what social background or economic status. Scouting is needed more today than ever before.