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WinterFest 5k & Fun Run 2026

Date
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Start time
10:10 AM start (Denver)
Entry fee
From $16.50 · goes up to $20 on Oct 1, 2026
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
Fun Run/Walk (Untimed, approx .75 miles)KidsDec 12, 202610:10 AM$16.50$20 after Oct 1, 2026–
5k Run/Walk -TIMED and Scored5KDec 12, 202610:15 AM$30$35 after Oct 1, 2026–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

Register on RunSignup

The Kids fee goes up to $20 on Oct 1, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • Fun Run/Walk (Untimed, approx .75 miles): $16.50 until Oct 1, then $20 until Nov 13, then $25 until Dec 6, then $30 until Dec 12.
  • 5k Run/Walk -TIMED and Scored: $30 until Oct 1, then $35 until Nov 13, then $40 until Dec 6, then $45 until Dec 12.

Online registration closes Dec 12, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $30, entry is about 14 percent below a typical 5K in Colorado, which costs $35 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in Thornton runs 36:31, about 11:45 a mile, based on 3 races with published results. Women typically finish in 41:33 and men in 33:28.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:11 AM, and the Fun Run/Walk (Untimed, approx .75 miles) starts at 10:10 AM. The start sits about 5,210 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

3498 E 112th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.

326
finishers
36:31
median (11:47 /mi)
17:06
winning time
61% / 39%
women / men
median 36:3118:381:06:18
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Aggregated from official results (3W Races) for WinterFest 5k & Fun Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at WinterFest 5k & Fun Run?

In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:20 or better, the top quarter in 29:29, and half the field in 36:31; the last tenth came in after 56:45.

Third place by age group, 2025 5k Run/Walk
AgeWomenMen
Under 2022:0319:32
20-2928:2622:12
30-3928:0119:49
40-4925:4522:32
50-5934:3725:07
60-6931:5530:16
70+41:05n/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 9 percent since 2022.

All events combined, from official results.

WinterFest 5k & Fun Run 5K year by year

From 2022 to 2025, the field went from 300 to 326 finishers, and the median time dropped from 37:53 to 36:31.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
2025326 (+5%)36:31under 24:2017:06
2024311 (-5%)36:26under 24:0718:05
2023326 (+9%)36:43under 24:5618:08
202230037:53under 26:0417:18

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 29:29, against 29:40 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 12 the day usually runs from 25°F at dawn to 48°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 3% of days. Cold snaps dip to 18°F and hot years reach 62°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 WinterFest 5k & Fun Run cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

ADVANCED PACKET PICK UP

Date: Thursday Dec 10, 2026. Time: 4-7pm. Location: Road Runner Sports Westminster. Address: 10442 Town Center Dr, Ste 300, Westminster, CO 80021. APPU FAQs: Yes, you can pick up for a friend or send someone to pick up for you! Yes, we…

Schedule and packet pickup

RACE DAY RAFFLE

Want to win some cool stuff including 3W Races vouchers, gift cards, and gear from sponsors? Bring 5 or more items to donate to Food for Hope on race day and you'll be entered into the exclusive race day raffle!! Drop off items before you…

Schedule and packet pickup

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

9:15 until race start- Race Day Registration/ Late Packet Pick-Up. 10:10- Fun Run/Walk Start. 10:15- 5K Start. 11:00- Post-Race Awards. 11:25- Finish Line Closes; enjoy Winterfest on the field!

Schedule and packet pickup

FREE BEER

Compliments of the City of Thornton, all registered racers (21+) get ONE FREE BEER in the beer garden after the event! - Redeemable on RACE DAY only until 2 PM.

Course

COURSE INFORMATION

5k COURSE: Lollipop course with a shared start and finish area at the north end of the Carpenter Park campus. Course Surface: Mostly concrete with small section of dirt/crushed gravel. We will run in any and all conditions…

Shirt and medal

SWAG

SWAG, from the WinterFest 5k & Fun Run page
Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
3498 E 112th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 5,210 feet
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
5K, Kids
Editions
2026 (Dec 12, 2026), 2025 (Dec 13, 2025), 2024 (Dec 14, 2024), 2023 (Dec 9, 2023), 2022 (Dec 10, 2022)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is WinterFest 5k & Fun Run?
Saturday, December 12, 2026, starting at 10:10 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $16.50 before processing fees, and rises to $20 on Oct 1, 2026.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Dec 12, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for Colorado?
At $30, entry is about 14 percent below a typical 5K in Colorado, which costs $35 right now.
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, Kids.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2025, 326 runners finished the 5k Run/Walk; the median finish was 36:31 and the winner ran 17:06.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:29, against 29:40 in a typical Colorado 5K, so times here are about average.
Where does it start?
3498 E 112th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233.
Is there a course map?
Yes, the organizers publish the route on MapMyRun; the link is under Start location and course.

From the organizers

Kick off the holiday season with a spirited run/walk at Thornton's Carpenter Park. Choose from the chip-timed 5k, or experience the festive atmosphere in a shorter distance in our untimed Fun Run/Walk.

Stick around after for the festival, including Ice skating, Holiday Marketplace, Santa visits, and the Heated Beer Garden.

Celebrate the Best of Winter in Thornton, Colorado. You'll enjoy a warm drink at the finish line in your festive collectible mug.

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