Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll
About this race
The Elkhart Education Foundation is excited to host the annual Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk and 1.5 Mile Sweater Stroll. This is a fun-filled event for every person: the serious runner, the recreational jogger, walkers, and our furry friends!
Wear your tackiest sweater and you may win the Ugliest Sweater Contest (contest starts before the race). ECS student made finisher awards for all! Prizes will be awarded for the top Overall Male/Female in Adult, Youth and Teen as well as Age Group winners in each of 15 age divisions! Note: The Stroll is not timed, so there are no placement awards for that event, but everyone gets a Finisher memento!
The 5K Run and Walk is timed, the 1.5 mile walk is not. Race entry fee includes race experience, custom hat, Jumbotron, awards, Gym to stay warm in before and after, course support and post race hot cocoa and treats!
Prior to the race, take some fun pics at the photo booth and we'll capture your picture in your outfit!
At the finish line, enjoy hot chocolate and holiday treats!
Reminder of new location and route in 2026:
We outgrew our location at NIBCO Water & Ice Park, so we are moving the start/finish to North Side Middle School, 300 East Lawrence, Elkhart which is basically on the corner of Main Street and Bristol! There is plenty of room to be inside before or after the race in this spacious gym!
The scenic course will include much of the same area as last year that people enjoyed, through some charming small parks.
Packet Pickup
Check-in and packet pickup / Onsite Registration
Friday, December 4 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Elkhart Health & Aquatics in the Community Meeting Rooms, 200 East Jackson, Elkhart.
Saturday, December 5 at North Side Middle School gym- our NEW LOCATION- 300 Lawrence, Elkhart from 7:00 am - 8:15 am.
Awards
- Finisher medals for everyone!
- Top three overall Male/Female in the 5K
- Costume awards! Get in on the fun and wear your silliest, funniest sweaters and holiday gear! This is what makes this race so fun! Award categories: Best Male, Best Female, Best Teen, Best Youth, Best Group!
Parking
There is plenty of free parking at North Side. Please follow directions from our parking lot attendants! You will enter and exit on the Bristol Street side so that there is no chance of being close to runners.
Not really a runner or walker but want to help?
We need a lot of volunteers! Perhaps you have a friend or spouse who just isn't into running OR you want to help AND run/walk in the event! Good news! There are a lot of options! Just reach out and let our team know you want to help!
Pick your distance
Running
5K Run or Walk
Please gather in front of North Side Middle School, 300 Lawrence, Elkhart by 8:15 am. Course announcements and safety information will be given. The race will begin at 8:30 am. You will be following Green Arrow signs.
Walking
Sweater Stroll- 1.5 mile
Please gather in front of North Side Middle School, 300 Lawrence Street, Elkhart by 8:15 am. Course announcements and safety information will be given. The Mile Stroll will begin at 8:35 am as soon as the runners go off. Follow the Pink arrow signs.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 6 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Elkhart, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:55 AM and sets at 5:13 PM local time (EST) in Elkhart on December 5, 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 — Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll
Other races near Elkhart
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Food Allergy Awareness Walk
Faith Mission Turkey Stampede presented by Adams Remco, Inc.
Airport Night to Light 5K
Haunted Halloween Hustle
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Elkhart
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Elkhart 5K Races 7 races
- 10K Run Events in Elkhart 2 races
- Elkhart Running Calendar 2026 8 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, 9 Elkhart events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.