Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll

Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll is held in Elkhart, Indiana, on December 5, 2026, at North Side Middle School. The 5K (3.1 miles) run or walk starts at 8:30 AM, and the Sweater Stroll, a 1.5-mile walk, follows three minutes later at 8:33 AM. Festive outfits are the point, and the Elkhart Education Foundation organizes the morning.

Two formats at two very different efforts means you can bring anyone: the stroll is a comfortable walk in a novelty sweater, while the 5K is a real timed distance if you want to push. Runners aiming for a good time should note that thick knitwear is warmer than it looks once you are five minutes in, so plan your layers accordingly. Proceeds go back to local students and teachers through grants and programs, so the entry fee stays in Elkhart schools.