Ugly Sweater 5K 2026
- Date
- Sunday, December 20, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (Denver)
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Entry fee
- From $33 · goes up to $36 on Nov 16, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5K | Dec 20, 20269:00 AM | $33$36 after Nov 16, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 5K | 5K | Dec 20, 20269:00 AM | $33$36 after Nov 16, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $36 on Nov 16, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K: $33 until Nov 16, then $36 until Dec 20, then $40 until Dec 20.
- Virtual 5K: $33 until Nov 16, then $36 until Dec 16.
Online registration closes Dec 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $33, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Colorado ($35).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Denver runs 37:34, about 12:05 a mile, based on 47 races with published results. Women typically finish in 39:56 and men in 33:00.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:16 AM, and the 5K starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 5,330 feet above sea level, high enough that most runners from lower ground run noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Washington Park, Denver, CO 80209
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)Aggregated from official results (HAL Sports) for Ugly Sweater 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Ugly Sweater 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 25:21 or better, the top quarter in 29:58, and half the field in 36:26; the last tenth came in after 58:07.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 24:35 | 17:30 |
| 20-29 | 19:55 | 17:37 |
| 30-39 | 21:01 | 16:40 |
| 40-49 | 23:02 | 20:19 |
| 50-59 | 25:49 | 21:44 |
| 60-69 | 30:02 | 24:01 |
| 70+ | 32:30 | 28:06 |
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 89 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Ugly Sweater 5K 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 807 to 1,527 finishers, and the median time dropped from 37:26 to 36:26.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,527 (+12%) | 36:26 | under 25:21 | 16:10 |
| 2024 | 1,361 (+7%) | 36:45 | under 25:22 | 15:47 |
| 2023 | 1,271 (+19%) | 35:23 | under 25:08 | 16:19 |
| 2022 | 1,064 (+32%) | 36:10 | under 26:00 | 16:08 |
| 2021 | 807 | 37:26 | under 25:33 | 15:59 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Colorado 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:58, against 29:37 in a typical Colorado 5K, 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 20 the day usually runs from 26°F at dawn to 51°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 5% of days. Cold snaps dip to 17°F and hot years reach 64°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
- Washington Park, Denver, CO 80209Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 5,330 feet
- Results posted by the race
- Results and Photos
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 20, 2026), 2025 (Dec 21, 2025), 2024 (Dec 15, 2024), 2023 (Dec 17, 2023), 2022 (Dec 18, 2022), 2021 (Dec 19, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Ugly Sweater 5K?
- Sunday, December 20, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $33 before processing fees, and rises to $36 on Nov 16, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Colorado?
- At $33, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Colorado ($35).
- 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.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 1,527 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 36:26 and the winner ran 16:10.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:58, against 29:37 in a typical Colorado 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Washington Park, Denver, CO 80209.
From the organizers
Get into the holiday spirit with the Ugly Sweater 5K! Runners and walkers, young and old, are invited to join us at Washington Park in Denver for a flat, fast 5K. Dress in a tacky sweater – the more tinsel, bows, reindeer and candy canes, the better. It’s not a fashion faux pas if you’re supposed to wear it! All finishers will get an ugly sweater race medal, a themed shirt and a finish line expo with vendors, food and cookies.