Course
COURSE MAPS
Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Los Angeles)
- Location
- Huntington Beach, California
- Entry fee
- From $32 · goes up to $46 on Oct 28, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HO HO HO KID's DASH Course | Kids | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | $32 | – |
| Santa Claus For A Cause 10K | 10K | Dec 12, 20268:30 AM | $42$46 after Oct 28, 2026 | – |
| Santa Claus For A Cause 5K | 5K | Dec 12, 20268:30 AM | $38$40 after Oct 28, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The 10K fee goes up to $46 on Oct 28, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- HO HO HO KID's DASH Course: $32 until Dec 13.
- Santa Claus For A Cause 10K: $42 until Oct 28, then $46 until Dec 12, then $50 until Dec 13.
- Santa Claus For A Cause 5K: $38 until Oct 28, then $40 until Dec 12, then $45 until Dec 13.
Online registration closes Dec 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $42, entry is about the same as a typical 10K in California ($42.99).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in Huntington Beach runs 1:06:54, about 10:46 a mile, based on 7 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:10:23 and men in 1:01:30.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:47 AM, and the HO HO HO KID's DASH Course starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 80 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
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 (5 years)Santa Claus For A Cause 5K
626
finishers
38:24
median (12:23 /mi)
18:53
winning time
57% / 43%
women / men
Santa Claus For A Cause 10K
210
finishers
1:07:24
median (10:52 /mi)
35:29
winning time
53% / 47%
women / men
Aggregated from official results for Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K?
At the 2025 Santa Claus For A Cause 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 25:45 or better, the top quarter in 30:48, and half the field in 38:24; the last tenth came in after 1:01:04.
At the 2025 Santa Claus For A Cause 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 50:23 or better, the top quarter in 58:23, and half the field in 1:07:24; the last tenth came in after 1:23:58.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 23:45 | 20:36 |
| 20-29 | 28:21 | 29:06 |
| 30-39 | 30:10 | 24:08 |
| 40-49 | 26:36 | 23:30 |
| 50-59 | 28:24 | 25:47 |
| 60-69 | 31:57 | 27:13 |
| 70+ | 43:33 | 32:53 |
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
About the same size since 2021.
868
2021
1,084
2022
1,144
2023
1,009
2024
836
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 559 to 626 finishers, and the median time rose from 34:13 to 38:24.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 626 (-6%) | 38:24 | under 25:45 | 18:53 |
| 2024 | 666 (-10%) | 36:34 | under 24:23 | 18:16 |
| 2023 | 742 (+2%) | 36:30 | under 24:35 | 14:48 |
| 2022 | 731 (+31%) | 34:23 | under 25:06 | 16:37 |
| 2021 | 559 | 34:13 | under 23:11 | 16:26 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for California 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:48, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here are about average.
- 10K: Slower than most California 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 58:23, against 56:15 in a typical California 10K, so times here run 4 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 12 the day usually runs from 49°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 8% of days. Cold snaps dip to 41°F and hot years reach 77°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 Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K cover on their registration page, in brief.
Rules and FAQ
FAQ
Volunteers. Can I volunteer for this event? Space is filling up pretty fast. Please contact [email protected]. Packet Pick Up. What if I can not pick up my packets at the optional early Packet Pick Up? Early packet pick up is…
The cause
This RACE GIFTS BACK in this way through YOUR donations
Hit the DONATE BUTTON and contribute to Ware in the World, as Caren Ware gifts back to the needs she has RAN into RUNNING remote marathons across all 7 continents. Most recently finishing the Everest Marathon at the Basecamp of Mt. Everest…
Race details
- Where
- Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach, CA 92648Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 80 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 12, 2026), 2025 (Dec 6, 2025), 2024 (Dec 14, 2024), 2023 (Dec 16, 2023), 2022 (Dec 17, 2022), 2021 (Dec 12, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K?
- Saturday, December 12, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $32 before processing fees, and rises to $46 on Oct 28, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for California?
- At $42, entry is about the same as a typical 10K in California ($42.99).
- 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, 10K, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 626 runners finished the Santa Claus For A Cause 5K; the median finish was 38:24 and the winner ran 18:53.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:48, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.
From the organizers
Santa Claus with a Cause 5K/10K
📅 Saturday, December 12th, 2026
📍 Bolsa Chica State Beach – Lot 25, Huntington Beach, CA
Get ready for the ultimate Santa celebration at Bolsa Chica State Beach!
This isn’t just a race, it’s a full-blown Christmas experience.
You’ll run along the beach surrounded by falling snow, live carolers, festive music, and holiday cheer. Every runner receives their choice of a full Santa suit, cozy Santa beanie, or custom-designed race shirt, plus one of the biggest, most festive finisher Santa medal designed to double as a Christmas ornament.