The Elkhart Education Foundation is excited to host the annual Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk and 1.5 Mile Sweater Stroll. This is a fun-filled event for every person: the serious runner, the recreational jogger, walkers, and our furry friends!
Wear your tackiest sweater and you may win the Ugliest Sweater Contest (contest starts before the race). ECS student made finisher awards for all! Prizes will be awarded for the top Overall Male/Female in Adult, Youth and Teen as well as Age Group winners in each of 15 age divisions! Note: The Stroll is not timed, so there are no placement awards for that event, but everyone gets a Finisher memento!
The 5K Run and Walk is timed, the 1.5 mile walk is not. Race entry fee includes race experience, custom hat, Jumbotron, awards, Gym to stay warm in before and after, course support and post race hot cocoa and treats!
Prior to the race, take some fun pics at the photo booth and we'll capture your picture in your outfit!
At the finish line, enjoy hot chocolate and holiday treats!
Reminder of new location and route in 2026:
We outgrew our location at NIBCO Water & Ice Park, so we are moving the start/finish to North Side Middle School, 300 East Lawrence, Elkhart which is basically on the corner of Main Street and Bristol! There is plenty of room to be inside before or after the race in this spacious gym!
The scenic course will include much of the same area as last year that people enjoyed, through some charming small parks.
Packet Pickup
Check-in and packet pickup / Onsite Registration
Friday, December 4 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Elkhart Health & Aquatics in the Community Meeting Rooms, 200 East Jackson, Elkhart.
Saturday, December 5 at North Side Middle School gym- our NEW LOCATION- 300 Lawrence, Elkhart from 7:00 am - 8:15 am.
Awards
Parking
There is plenty of free parking at North Side. Please follow directions from our parking lot attendants! You will enter and exit on the Bristol Street side so that there is no chance of being close to runners.
Not really a runner or walker but want to help?
We need a lot of volunteers! Perhaps you have a friend or spouse who just isn't into running OR you want to help AND run/walk in the event! Good news! There are a lot of options! Just reach out and let our team know you want to help!
Dec 05, 2026
Distance — 5K
Type — Running
08:30
$20.00
Dec 05, 2026
Distance — 1.5 Miles
Type — Running
08:33
$20.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for December in Elkhart.
Learn more about the host city, Elkhart.
Elkhart is the third largest city in Northern Indiana, and is just east of South Bend along the Indiana Toll Road.
Read more launchOfficial finishing times from previous editions of Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026.
| Place | Name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Sergio De La Cruz | 16:14.25 | |
| 🥈 | Andy Williams | 16:26.17 | |
| 🥉 | Aaron Richter | 16:40.24 | |
| 4 | Teagen Rodriguez | 16:45.17 | |
| 5 | Tanner Pinks | 17:43.27 | |
| 6 | Marc Hernandez | 18:27.4 | |
| 7 | Walter Nolasco | 18:38.58 | |
| 8 | Caden Hostetler | 18:48.9 | |
| 9 | Ernest Mcclain | 19:02.77 | |
| 10 | Jon Long | 19:04.35 | |
| 11 | Max Estep | 19:26.37 | |
| 12 | Javier Sanchez | 19:39.78 | |
| 13 | Brady Abney | 19:42.27 | |
| 14 | Logan Mann | 19:46.24 | |
| 15 | Anonymous Anonymous | 20:11.44 | |
| 16 | Joshua Kinder | 20:20.84 | |
| 17 | Mia Wellington | 20:27.01 | |
| 18 | Deven Hostetler | 20:27.67 | |
| 19 | Scott Ludwig | 20:27.87 | |
| 20 | Stephanie Burkholder | 20:33.96 | |
| 21 | Adelyn Long | 20:44.25 | |
| 22 | Demetrio Joshua Garcia | 20:48.8 | |
| 23 | Ruben Falcon | 20:50.61 | |
| 24 | E. Sears | 20:53.07 | |
| 25 | Lucas Alvarez-O’Connell | 20:55.52 | |
| 26 | Adley Keim | 21:01.28 | |
| 27 | A. Harber | 21:03.55 | |
| 28 | Ethan Hausbach | 21:06.82 | |
| 29 | Reyna Garcia | 21:08.14 | |
| 30 | Kellen Hartman | 21:08.68 | |
| 31 | Aubrey Morgan | 21:12.04 | |
| 32 | Todd Bailey | 21:24.51 | |
| 33 | Jose Lopez | 21:55.34 | |
| 34 | Dan Boecher | 21:58.09 | |
| 35 | Elise Walker | 21:58.36 | |
| 36 | Colleen Dabler | 22:09.28 | |
| 37 | Matt Kowals | 22:11.69 | |
| 38 | Ruth Ritchey Moore | 22:19.47 | |
| 39 | Scott Rutledge | 22:37.82 | |
| 40 | Aaliyah Vaught | 22:49.18 | |
| 41 | Janine Doot | 22:53.56 | |
| 42 | Gretchen Ludwig | 23:15.12 | |
| 43 | Demetrio Garcia | 23:22.92 | |
| 44 | A. Daly | 23:24.82 | |
| 45 | Naomi Grubert | 23:25.22 | |
| 46 | Jordan Jones | 23:25.61 | |
| 47 | Marty McGinn | 23:28.29 | |
| 48 | Paola Vazquez | 23:34.07 | |
| 49 | Angel Vazquez | 23:34.36 | |
| 50 | Matt Maupin | 23:37.26 |
Read what other athletes have to say about their experience at the Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026.
Be the first to share your experience with the community!
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