Santa Runs Griffith Park 2026
- Date
- Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Los Angeles)
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Entry fee
- From $20 · goes up to $54 on Oct 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Dash | Kids | Dec 6, 20268:00 AM | $20 | – |
| 10K | 10K | Dec 6, 20268:30 AM | $49$54 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Dec 6, 20268:50 AM | $45$49 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 10K fee goes up to $54 on Oct 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kids Dash: $20 until Dec 6.
- 10K: $49 until Oct 1, then $54 until Dec 5, then $49 until Dec 6.
- 5K: $45 until Oct 1, then $49 until Dec 5, then $54 until Dec 6.
Online registration closes Dec 6, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $49, entry is about 14 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in Los Angeles runs 1:05:18, about 10:31 a mile, based on 10 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:12:18 and men in 1:00:28.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:44 AM, and the Kids Dash starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 1,120 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
4800 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
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)5K
10K
Aggregated from official results (Ready, Set... Time!) for Santa Runs Griffith Park. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Santa Runs Griffith Park?
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 27:59 or better, the top quarter in 33:06, and half the field in 39:26; the last tenth came in after 57:30.
At the 2025 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 50:01 or better, the top quarter in 55:19, and half the field in 1:05:18; the last tenth came in after 1:29:46.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 27:40 | 25:08 |
| 20-29 | 23:34 | 23:19 |
| 30-39 | 29:21 | 25:57 |
| 40-49 | 26:43 | 21:43 |
| 50-59 | 29:49 | 25:10 |
| 60-69 | 32:26 | 29:42 |
| 70+ | n/a | 52:40 |
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 25 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Santa Runs Griffith Park 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 447 to 582 finishers, and the median time rose from 38:13 to 39:26.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 582 (+30%) | 39:26 | under 27:59 | 18:16 |
| 2024 | 447 | 38:13 | under 27:49 | 18:30 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most California 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 33:06, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here run 8 percent slower.
- 10K: About average for California 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 55:19, against 56:15 in a typical California 10K, 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 6 the day usually runs from 45°F at dawn to 62°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 12% of days. Cold snaps dip to 38°F and hot years reach 74°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
- 4800 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 1,120 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 6, 2026), 2025 (Dec 7, 2025), 2024 (Dec 15, 2024)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Santa Runs Griffith Park?
- Sunday, December 6, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $20 before processing fees, and rises to $54 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 6, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for California?
- At $49, entry is about 14 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 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, 10K, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 582 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 39:26 and the winner ran 18:16.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 33:06, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here run 8 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 4800 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
From the organizers
We are back! Join us for our 5th Annual Santa Runs Griffith Park 5K/10K. Last year was a great success and we want to invite you to join us again, or if this is your first time with us - welcome! Trek through the beautiful & historic Griffith Park located in the heart of Los Angeles on December 6th, 2026 along with hundreds of other Santas!
Our 5K course is a fast flat course around Griffith Park. You'll catch a glimpse of some beautiful views.
If you're looking for a challenge, try our 10K course!