Christmas Island Jingle Bell Run

Christmas Island Jingle Bell Run is an annual evening race in Burnside, Kentucky, going off at 9:30 p.m. on December 12, 2026. There's a 5K run and a 5K walk, both on the same course through General Burnside Island State Park, where a Christmas light display lines the route. An individual and a team costume contest run alongside the race, so creative outfits are part of the point, and the whole event pairs a fitness excuse with the holiday season.

Running at night changes the preparation more than the distance does. Do a couple of your training runs after dark in the weeks beforehand so the late start doesn't feel strange, and eat your main meal early enough to be settled by the time you line up. The 5K itself is approachable for a first-timer at a relaxed effort, and if you'd rather take in the lights than chase a time, the walk covers the same ground. Three to four runs a week for a month is plenty.