Hocus Pocus 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings 2026
- Date
- Friday, October 30, 2026
- Start time
- 6:00 PM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Crown Point, Indiana
- Entry fee
- From $25
- 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 Timed Halloween Run | 5K | Oct 30, 20266:00 PM | $30 | – |
| Non-Timed Halloween 2K Walk | Other | Oct 30, 20266:00 PM | $25 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K Timed Halloween Run: $30 until Oct 30.
- Non-Timed Halloween 2K Walk: $25 until Oct 30.
Online registration closes Oct 30, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Indiana ($30).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Crown Point runs 34:00, about 10:57 a mile, based on 19 races with published results. Women typically finish in 36:36 and men in 30:34.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:17 AM, and the 5K Timed Halloween Run starts at 6:00 PM. The start sits about 710 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Lake County Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN 46307
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 (T&H Timing) for Hocus Pocus 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Hocus Pocus 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:34 or better, the top quarter in 26:36, and half the field in 33:35; the last tenth came in after 49:47.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 25:34 | 22:40 |
| 20-29 | 25:34 | 23:55 |
| 30-39 | 25:09 | 21:56 |
| 40-49 | 27:23 | 25:22 |
| 50-59 | 32:23 | 25:01 |
| 60-69 | 37:20 | 24:11 |
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 175 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Hocus Pocus 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 117 to 322 finishers, and the median time rose from 31:09 to 33:35.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 322 (+36%) | 33:35 | under 24:34 | 18:34 |
| 2024 | 237 (+39%) | 36:29 | under 25:24 | 19:53 |
| 2023 | 171 (-18%) | 35:21 | under 25:09 | 18:06 |
| 2022 | 208 (+78%) | 32:11 | under 24:39 | 18:23 |
| 2021 | 117 | 31:09 | under 22:18 | 17:41 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Indiana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:36, against 28:30 in a typical Indiana 5K, so times here run 7 percent faster.
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 October 30 the day usually runs from 42°F at dawn to 58°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 25% of days. Cold snaps dip to 32°F and hot years reach 70°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
- Lake County Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN 46307Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 710 feet
- Included with entry
- Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 30, 2026), 2025 (Oct 24, 2025), 2024 (Oct 25, 2024), 2023 (Oct 27, 2023), 2022 (Oct 28, 2022), 2021 (Oct 29, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Hocus Pocus 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings?
- Friday, October 30, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 30, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Indiana?
- At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Indiana ($30).
- 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, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 322 runners finished the 5K Timed Halloween Run; the median finish was 33:35 and the winner ran 18:34.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:36, against 28:30 in a typical Indiana 5K, so times here run 7 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Lake County Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN 46307.
From the organizers
The "Witches in the Woods 5K" has a NEW name and added Hocus Pocus fun! Along with witches and ghouls on the course, the Sanderson Sisters are flying into town to add their own spooky fun!
Join us for a night time run/walk & prove Witches live in the Woods! Take a photo of a witch with your phone for a chance to WIN prizes! Entry includes:
* Finisher Medals for FIRST 200 to sign up!
* Night time race through the trees & along the roads of the Fairgrounds at night! Please bring flashlights or headlamps.