Carolina Ugly Sweater 5k Walk/Run & 1k Elf Run
About this race
Carolina's Ugly Sweater 5K and 1K Elf Run is BACK!!!! 5 Years strong!!
December 6th... the best way to prepare for Christmas! Walkers, strollers and pets are all welcome to participate in the 5k!! Thank you to Dash Home Loans & Keffer Mazda of Huntersville for being the two main sponsors! Please visit our sponsor section below & show some love to them for making this event happen!!
This year each participant will receive:
- A coupon for a FREE chicken sandwich from any Chick-fil-A : Thanks Joe!!
- Everyone over the age 21 will receive 2 adult beverage drink tickets. Drinks include beer, wine & champagne/mimosas!! (Sponsored by Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery)
- All participants will receive a ticket for a free donut from Your Mom's Donuts the day of the event.
- All participants that register before December 1st will receive a Christmas race ornament.
- An Ugly Sweater race cup.
The festive 5K and 1K Elf Run will start and finish in Jetton Village by Penny Lane formally known as Cornelius Drafthouse. Start time for the 5k is 230. The Kid's 1K Elf Run will start at 3:30 p.m. It is recommended for 10 and under. Awards for both races will be presented after the 1K around 345. Stick around for a ton of giveaways from local businesses after the awards!!
Participants will have the option to purchase an Ugly Sweater t-shirt (softest in the Carolinas) for $10.00 until November 25th.
There will be a ton of giveaways and a prize for best overall costume.
This event will be so much fun for the entire family!! In addition, this is our nonprofit's biggest event of the year to raise money to get kiddos here in the area into sports who otherwise would not have the opportunity. Please make a donation and tell your friends and family to join us!! They can walk so there are no excuse!! Please visit our website to learn more: CREE Cares Website
There will be a photographer and videographer at the event. By registering you agree to release any photos and video for public view. In addition, there will be one text sent to you about the event the coming year.
We cannot wait to see you there!! Lets make some memories!! Check out the Christmas Vacation Giveaway down below!!
The event is rain or shine.
2024 Watch Video
2023 Watch Video
2022 Watch Video
Pick your distance
Running
Carolina's Ugly Sweater 5K
Elf Run 1k
Typical race-day weather
Based on 4 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Cornelius, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:18 AM and sets at 5:10 PM local time (EST) in Cornelius on December 6, 2026 — 9h 51m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Carolina Ugly Sweater 5k Walk/Run & 1k Elf Run
Other races near Cornelius
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Novant Health Lake Norman 15K & 5K
20th Annual Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot 10K & 5K
Cfnc Steps for Hope
Davidson Turkey Trot
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Cornelius
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Cornelius 5K Races 6 races
- Cornelius Running Calendar 2026 7 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 8 Cornelius events
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