Hoboken's Jingle Bell 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run

Hoboken's Jingle Bell 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run returns to Hoboken, New Jersey on December 12, 2026, with the one-mile at 9:00 a.m. and the 5K at 10:00 a.m. The route runs along the scenic waterfront with Manhattan across the water. Entry includes a Santa suit, chip timing and a bib, plus free hot chocolate at the finish. There's live music through the morning, professional race photography, and awards by age group, which turns the event into something more than a quick December run.

Waterfront running is flat and fast, so this is a reasonable place to attempt a 5K best, with one caveat: a Santa suit is not aerodynamic and the river can be breezy, so plan your layers accordingly. The hour between the two starts leaves room to run the mile hard and still race the 5K, if speed work is what you're after. For a straightforward 5K target, four to six weeks of running with one weekly interval session and one longer easy run will get you there.