Santa Run & Walk 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings

Santa Run & Walk 5K/2K | Hometown Happenings takes place in Crown Point, Indiana, on December 19, 2026, with both events going off at 8:00 a.m. The timed 5K (3.1 miles) is the main race, while the 2K run/walk is untimed and built for families and newcomers. Medals go to early registrants, and awards are handed out to the top finishers across several age groups. Refreshments and a visit with Santa follow the finish, and proceeds go to local food banks. Adults and kids pay an entry fee; toddlers get in free.

Treat the 5K as a short, sharp road effort: a mile of easy jogging beforehand, then a pace you can hold all the way to the line. If you have never raced, the 2K is the friendlier door in, and it works just as well as a family walk. Four to six weeks of consistent running, with one faster session each week, is all the preparation the distance really asks for.