Anacortes Santa Run

Anacortes Santa Run takes to the streets of Anacortes, Washington, on December 12, 2026. The main event is the Santa Run 5K at 9:00 a.m., preceded by a Kid's Dash at 8:45 a.m. Every runner receives a Santa suit to wear on course, which sets the tone for the whole morning. The start features Christmas carols, and cookies and hot chocolate are handed out along the route. Prizes are up for grabs too, including a gallon of eggnog for the first finishers, and you will share the road with cross-country runners from the local high schools. Group registration discounts are available.

Do not expect a personal-record course when you are running in a full Santa suit, but do expect a fast front pack thanks to the high school cross-country crowd. For most participants this is a fun, social 5K; a few weeks of easy jogging is all the preparation you need. If you want to race it, a couple of short interval sessions in the weeks before will help you keep up with the students at the front.