Santa Run 8K/5K & Snowman Dash

Santa Run 8K/5K & Snowman Dash takes place in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 19, 2026. The 8K and the 5K start together at 9:00 a.m. and the Snowman Dash follows at 10:15 a.m. over a mile. Participants can dress as Santa, an elf, a reindeer or a snowman, with character shirts and hats adding to the theme, and finishers of the 8K and 5K receive medals. The Snowman Dash is non-competitive, timing is handled by Chronotrack Systems, and age-group awards are given across several categories. A medical tent and bad-weather plans are in place, entry fees are non-refundable, and parking is available nearby.

The 8K is the more interesting choice for a trained runner: at just under five miles it demands more pacing judgment than a 5K without requiring a long build. Four to six weeks of regular running gets you there.