Ugly Sweater 5K - Denver

Ugly Sweater 5K - Denver is held at Washington Park in Denver, Colorado, on December 20, 2026. There is a single format, a 5K (3.1 miles) starting at 9:00 a.m., and it welcomes runners and walkers of every age. The dress code is half the point: pull on your loudest holiday sweater, tinsel, bows, reindeer and candy canes included. Everyone who takes part receives a medal and an ugly-sweater-themed t-shirt, and past the finish line there is an expo with vendors, food and cookies.

Treat this as a road 5K to enjoy rather than a goal race, though nothing stops you from running it hard if you want a quick December time. If it is your first 5K, three or four weeks of easy running three times a week will get you to the line ready. If you are chasing a personal best, add one weekly session of short intervals and jog ten easy minutes before the 9:00 a.m. start so you settle into pace immediately.