Ugly Sweater 5K - Columbia

Ugly Sweater 5K - Columbia is an annual run and walk in Columbia, South Carolina, held on December 12, 2026. The single format is a 5K (3.1 miles) starting at 8:00 AM, officially timed, with an awards ceremony once the field is in. Prizes go to the best sweaters, for pets as well as their owners.

The race benefits the Metropolitan Children's Advocacy Center, raising funds to help children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Because it is properly timed, you can use it as a genuine benchmark rather than just a costume outing: run the first mile a touch under control, then hold on. Four to six weeks of running three or four times a week, including one session of intervals at 5K effort, is enough to prepare. If you are walking it in a sweater, dress in layers you can open up as you warm.