Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k
About this race
The Zoo will host the inaugural Ugly Sweater 5K on Sunday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m., inviting runners and walkers to come in ugly sweaters and enjoy a one-of-a-kind race experience through the Zoo!
NOTE: There will not be a water stop on the course due to the cold weather. Water will be at the start and finish line, but runners are recommended to bring their own water bottle to the race if they would like water on the course.
Registration/Packet Pick-up: 7:00AM
5K Start Time: 8:30AM
1-mile walk Start Time: 9:00AM
Location: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Registration Pricing-
Pre-registration through December 4 - $30
December 5 through Race Day - $35
**Race Day Registration is Online Only!**
Spectator Information
Spectators wanting to come cheer on runners/walkers will need to purchase tickets to enter the zoo.
Zoo membership does not allow you free entry into the zoo.
Ticket prices are to be determined
Spectators must purchase tickets on-line only at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Website (link below):
Link Coming Soon!
Admissions will be there to scan the online ticket once purchased. The box office will not be open.
What You Get -
- Custom race t-shirt
- Finisher medal for all
- Post race refreshments
- Admission to the zoo
*Sorry, dogs are not allowed at this race
Pick your distance
Running
5K Run
1 Mile
Typical race-day weather
Based on 7 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Cleveland, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:38 AM and sets at 4:56 PM local time (EST) in Cleveland on December 6, 2026 — 9h 18m 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.
Reviews
Done this event?
If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners
Results — Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k
Other races near Cleveland
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Future for Wildlife 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk presented by CrossCountry Mortgage
Cleveland Metroparks Halloween 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk presented by CrossCountry Mortgage
Flexjet 5K/1 Mile
Zombie Run and Lurch
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Cleveland
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Cleveland 5K Races 97 races
- 10K Run Events in Cleveland 16 races
- Cleveland Half Marathons 6 races
- Marathons in Cleveland 2 races
- Cleveland Running Calendar 2026 122 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, 124 Cleveland events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.