Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k

About the Event

The Zoo will host the inaugural Ugly Sweater 5K on Sunday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m., inviting runners and walkers to come in ugly sweaters and enjoy a one-of-a-kind race experience through the Zoo!

NOTE: There will not be a water stop on the course due to the cold weather. Water will be at the start and finish line, but runners are recommended to bring their own water bottle to the race if they would like water on the course.

Registration/Packet Pick-up: 7:00AM
5K Start Time: 8:30AM
1-mile walk Start Time: 9:00AM
Location: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Registration Pricing-
Through December 4 - $30
December 5 through Race Day - $35
**Race Day Registration is Online Only!**

Spectator Information
Spectators wanting to come cheer on runners/walkers will need to purchase tickets to enter the zoo.
Zoo membership does not allow you free entry into the zoo.
Ticket prices are to be determined
Spectators must purchase tickets on-line only at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Website (link below):

Link Coming Soon!

Admissions will be there to scan the online ticket once purchased. The box office will not be open.

What You Get -

Custom race t-shirt
Finisher medal for all
Post race refreshments
Admission to the zoo

*Sorry, dogs are not allowed at this race

Races Offered

5K Run

Dec 06, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:30

sell

$30.00

1 Mile

Dec 06, 2026

straighten

Distance — 1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$30.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for December in Cleveland.

thermostat Temperature

-0.1° / 4.5°

wb_sunny Feels like

-6.6° / -0.7°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

3h 35m

water_drop Avg rainfall

3.7 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

0.7 cm

air Avg wind speed

19.7 km/h (Gentle breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Low

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Low (2.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

79.6%

wb_twilight Sunrise

08:45

nightlight Sunset

17:58

About Cleveland

Learn more about the host city, Cleveland.

Cleveland is a culturally diverse city on the shores of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. Recreational, cultural and educational opportunities are abundant throughout Northeast Ohio. You'll find world-class museums, cultural events, professional sports, and amusement parks. Places Rated Almanac ranks the area second in recreational options out of 354 US metro areas. This region ranks fifth in the nation in number of major cultural resources per one million residents.

Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

Official finishing times from previous editions of Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k.

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Ethan Gross	M	31	Newton Falls, OH	17:38.89
🥈	Brandon McQueen	M	39	Warren, PA	21:20.56
🥉	Elise Turner	F	32	Avon, OH	21:32.71
4	Trip Gaul	M	44	Lakewood, OH	21:34.93
5	Jared Southern	M	25	Hubbard, OH	21:52.38
6	Ward Strickland	M	34	Rochester, NY	22:00.19
7	Sophia Jordan	F	14	Stow, OH	22:11.36
8	Damone Jackson	M	28	Bedford, OH	22:22.46
9	Dakota Akers	M	30	Brunswick, OH	22:46.67
10	Michael Zuren	M	—	—	22:47.04
11	Matthew Moldovanyi	M	40	Cleveland, OH	23:01.48
12	Adam Sulic	M	31	Cleveland, OH	23:09.79
13	Kathryn Mueller	F	37	Seattle, WA	23:18.43
14	Terrance Holden	M	39	Willoughby, OH	23:18.95
15	Geoffrey Protz	M	40	Chagrin Falls, OH	23:57.84
16	Zachary Keenan	M	25	Chagrin Falls, OH	24:15.57
17	Anna Fletcher	F	26	Tiffin, OH	24:17.97
18	Alex Bruder	M	26	Tiffin, OH	24:18.74
19	Frank Zgrabik	M	43	Sagamore Hills, OH	24:26.28
20	McKenna Wells	F	13	Westlake, OH	24:31.35
21	Penelope Redmon	F	13	Westlake, OH	24:32.87
22	Ladell Arrington	M	34	Cleveland, OH	24:36.69
23	Linus Vazquez	M	23	Connellsville, PA	24:39.32
24	Morgan Abadie	F	13	Westlake, OH	24:40.03
25	Landon Noffsinger	M	14	North Olmsted, OH	24:54.1
26	Matthew Sacher	M	31	Barberton, OH	24:58.59
27	Matthew Byrne	M	32	Streetsboro, OH	24:59.11
28	Chad Kozak	M	25	Wakeman, OH	25:13.05
29	Chrisann Kwiatkowski	F	45	Independence, OH	25:14.94
30	Benny Scolaro	M	46	—	25:17.91
31	Greg Munthe	M	42	North Olmsted, OH	25:18.2
32	Randal Arcangelini jr	M	27	Brookpark, OH	25:20
33	ella rath	F	—	—	25:33.75
34	Taylor Nelson	F	30	Lakewood, OH	25:42.11
35	Zach Perry	M	39	North Ridgeville, OH	25:46.26
36	Scott Fahy	M	50	Cleveland, OH	26:01.27
37	Joseph Kinder	M	32	Brookpark, OH	26:27.79
38	Francis Pacetti	M	—	—	26:49.72
39	Maria Pacetti	F	—	—	26:50.55
40	Thomas Mills	M	37	North Ridgeville, OH	26:52.6
41	Miranda Bingham	F	27	Sheffield Lake, OH	27:03.38
42	Christopher Champion	M	41	Avon, OH	27:11.28
43	Bonnie Cole	F	45	North Ridgeville, OH	27:14.14
44	Kimberly Arnold	F	34	Maitland, FL	27:19
45	Clare Davidson	F	18	Kirtland, OH	27:19.59
46	Mia Goodwin	F	18	Chardon, OH	27:19.96
47	Miguel Bendezu	M	47	Cleveland, OH	27:25.06
48	Mark Dabney	M	61	Avon Lake, OH	27:37.37
49	Parker Cullison	F	13	Lakewood, OH	27:42.5
50	Abe Jaffee	M	57	North Ridgeville, OH	27:42.59