December 21, 2025

Get ready for a festive showdown in the heart of Auburn as the annual Auburn Santa Run 5k takes over the town! This spirited event offers a unique twist as participants have the option to join either Team Santa or Team Grinch, injecting a playful rivalry into the traditional 5k experience.

As the sun begins to rise, the streets of Auburn come alive with the cheerful sounds of jingling bells, festive music, and the laughter of eager participants dressed in their Santa or Grinch-themed running gear. The Auburn Santa Run 5k has become a beloved community tradition, bringing together runners of all ages and fitness levels to celebrate the holiday season in a healthy and joyful way.

The friendly rivalry between Team Santa and Team Grinch adds an extra layer of excitement to the run. Runners on each team encourage and cheer for their teammates, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the course.

VIRTUAL OPTION ADDED:

Our 2025 race is in person, we do have a virtual option. Keep reading to learn how virtual races work.

Virtual races do not have an actual race location, runners sign up and complete a run on their own. The day of the race, DEC 21, runners will receive an email or text message with directions on how and where to send in their results. We need these results to confirm that runners actually completed a run.  You can run any distance you want in any pace. There is no real 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. This is a great way for runners to stay active an still collect the medal. Race windown is from December 21 to December 25. Your tshirt and finisher medal will be shipped to you. 

Do I have to actually run to get the medal?
Short answer is YES, but walking is also acceptable.
Runners must actually submit results or mark on the results link as to have completed their run to actually receive the medal.