Jingle Bell Run 5k - Denver

Jingle Bell Run 5k - Denver brings runners together in Denver, Colorado, on December 13, 2026. Three formats set off at 8:00 a.m.: a timed 5K, a one-mile run, and a very short Kids Run of about 100 meters for the youngest participants. Festive outfits are part of the tradition on this December circuit, entries benefit the Arthritis Foundation, and a shirt, jingle bells and a medal are provided.

Three simultaneous starts make this more of a family morning than a race with real stakes, though the timed 5K still lets you see where your fitness sits. If you are after a time, warm up at length and hold an even pace rather than going out fast. For everyone else, alternating running and walking across the 5K is entirely reasonable, and the mile makes a gentler introduction for a first-time participant.