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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K (Team Santa) | 5K | Nov 28, 202610:00 AM | $40$42 after Nov 1, 2026 | 600 |
| Ugly Sweater 5K (Team Grinch) | 5K | Nov 28, 202610:00 AM | $40$42 after Nov 1, 2026 | 600 |
| Ugly Sweater 5K Yeti Walk | 5K | Nov 28, 202610:00 AM | $38$40 after Nov 1, 2026 | – |
| Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K (Virtual -Team Santa)Virtual | 5K | Nov 28, 202610:00 AM | $42$45 after Nov 1, 2026 | 100 |
| Ugly Sweater 5K (Virtual -Team Grinch)Virtual | 5K | Nov 28, 202610:00 AM | $45 | 100 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $42 on Nov 1, 2026.
Online registration closes Nov 28, 2026, unless the race fills first.
At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in New York, which costs $30 right now.
A typical finisher at a 5K in Liverpool runs 33:22, about 10:44 a mile, based on 13 races with published results. Women typically finish in 35:33 and men in 30:20.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:12 AM, and the Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K (Team Santa) starts at 10:00 AM. The start sits about 410 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
106 Lake Dr., Liverpool, NY 13088
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Aggregated from official results (Willow Running) for Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 25:02 or better, the top quarter in 29:11, and half the field in 33:34; the last tenth came in after 51:24.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 24:39 | 23:06 |
| 20-29 | 25:38 | 23:39 |
| 30-39 | 24:06 | 21:53 |
| 40-49 | 26:36 | 22:42 |
| 50-59 | 25:01 | 25:09 |
| 60-69 | 31:39 | 31:11 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
About the same size since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 406 to 392 finishers, and the median time dropped from 34:34 to 33:34.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 392 (-29%) | 33:34 | under 25:02 | 18:07 |
| 2024 | 549 (+119%) | 33:52 | under 25:48 | 16:59 |
| 2023 | 251 (-38%) | 35:18 | under 25:44 | 16:12 |
| 2022 | 405 (same) | 34:12 | under 25:07 | 16:25 |
| 2021 | 406 | 34:34 | under 25:07 | 18:05 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
Slower than most New York 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:11, against 27:55 in a typical New York 5K, so times here run 5 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.
Around November 28 the day usually runs from 29°F at dawn to 42°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 37% of days. Cold snaps dip to 23°F and hot years reach 49°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.
What the organizers of Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
Packet pickup pre-race- Tuesday, November 25th 5:00PM-7:00PM. TBD. Packet pickup pre-race- Friday, November 27th 1:00PM-3:00PM. TBD. Race Day- Saturday, November 28th 8:30AM- 9:45AM. At the Salt Museum (located near the start/finish area)…
Awards
We ask that runners wear their favorite Ugly Sweater, prizes will be awarded for: BEST Ugly Sweater. Most Creative. Funniest.
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
SYRACUSE UGLY SWEATER 5K
November 28, 2026
Race Event start time 10:00am
Come celebrate the transition from Thanksgiving to the Christmas season with a fun and festive Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K for runners and walkers. The 12th Annual Syracuse Ugly Sweater 5K will once again be held at Onondaga Lake Park under the Lights on the Lake. All runners participating in the Ugly Sweater 5K run (either Team Santa or Team Grinch) will receive a custom long sleeve shirt and custom finisher medal. New for 2026 will be the addition of the Ugly Sweater 5K Yeti Walk. All of those participating in the rewarding 5K walk will receive a custom Winter Beanie and a finisher medal.