NOON Year's Eve 5K

NOON Year's Eve 5K takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 31, 2026. The 5K (3.1 miles) starts at noon on a cross-country course with views over the lake and the park, and a Kids Dash follows at 12:45 p.m. Runners get a race shirt, a finisher medal and post-race refreshments, with a Go Green option for anyone who would rather skip the shirt and medal. Awards go to the overall finishers and to age groups, including a prize for the fastest last mile, and children in the Kids Dash receive a finisher medal of their own.

Because the route is cross-country rather than pavement, expect grass and uneven footing and pick a shoe with some grip rather than a racing flat. That surface costs most runners time compared with a road 5K, so race it on effort instead of chasing a number on your watch. The fastest-last-mile prize rewards a negative split, which is a good habit anyway: hold back through the opening half mile and spend what is left on the way home.