Race Into the Holidays at the 2026 Mistletoe Run
Your guide to the Winston-Salem's Mistletoe Run, returning Saturday, Dec. 5, with a Half marathon, 5K and Fun Run.
There are plenty of ways to kick off the holidays in Winston-Salem, but few look quite like the Mistletoe Run. For more than four decades, the first Saturday in December has brought runners and walkers downtown in Santa hats, elf gear, ugly sweaters, and plenty of other festive attire — all capped by a festive finish-line celebration filled with music, food, and plenty of good cheer.
The 43rd annual Mistletoe Run returns Saturday, Dec. 5, bringing runners, walkers, families, volunteers, and cheering sections to the Winston-Salem’s West End area near downtown. The race includes a half marathon, 5K, and 1-mile Fun Run, plus food trucks, local vendors, cheerleaders, community mascots, bounce houses, and plenty of encouragement along the way.
The Fun Run gets things moving at 7:30 a.m., followed by the half marathon and 5K. All three begin and end near the William G. White YMCA (known to some as the Central YMCA), making it easy for families and friends to gather around the start and finish lines.
Pick Your Own Pace
Serious runners will find plenty to like about Mistletoe: the half marathon and 5K are certified and chip-timed, with courses that showcase some of the city’s prettiest neighborhoods and sites.
The 5K winds through Buena Vista, while half marathoners continue through the grounds of Graylyn, past Reynolda House and Gardens and Reynolda Village, onto Wake Forest University’s campus, then loop back toward the YMCA.
Not chasing a personal record? No problem. The 1-mile Fun Run offers a shorter, family-friendly option, and walkers are welcome in both the Fun Run and 5K.
Every participant receives a race shirt. Half marathon and 5K finishers earn medals at the finish line, while Fun Run participants receive a finisher ribbon.
A Course Full of Cheer
What happens beside the course is almost as much a part of Mistletoe as what happens on it.
Local schools, colleges, businesses, neighborhood groups, and volunteers have long embraced the race, turning stretches of the course into unofficial cheering sections. In past years, runners have encountered everything from students singing Christmas carols to high school and college athletes staffing water stations, while neighbors ring cowbells, hold signs, and offer encouragement from driveways and sidewalks.
Race headquarters adds even more activity. The post-race party at the YMCA features music, food, games, bounce houses, vendors, local organizations, and mascots, giving runners a reason to hang around once they cross the finish line. (And yes, there are free Krispy Kreme doughnuts.)
The holiday atmosphere is only part of what has kept Mistletoe going for over four decades.
The race is the largest annual fundraiser for the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, with proceeds helping local children access programs that might otherwise be out of reach. Funds support swim lessons, youth sports, summer camp, after-school care, and other youth programming.
So whether you’re walking the Fun Run, racing the Half-Marathon, handing out water, or cheering from the sidelines, the Mistletoe Run offers a memorable way to race into the holidays — with a payoff that lasts long after you cross the finish line.
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Mistletoe Run FAQ
The race takes place the morning of Saturday, Dec. 5. The 1-mile Fun Run begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the half marathon at 8 a.m. and 5K at 8:15 a.m. See the full schedule and register here.
Registration is available through the YMCA’s Mistletoe Run page. Rates increase as race day approaches, and race-day registration is available. Register early for the best price.
The Race Expo and packet pickup takes place Friday, Dec. 4, from noon–7 p.m. inside the William G. White YMCA. Limited race-morning pickup is available from 6:15–7:15 a.m.
Yes. Complimentary childcare is available for registered race participants with children ages 6 weeks through 12 years, from 7:15–11:30 a.m. Advance registration is recommended.
The YMCA provides parking information, printable course maps, and GPS turn-by-turn directions for all three distances on its Mistletoe Run website.
Make a Holiday Weekend of It
The Mistletoe Run is just one of the man signature holiday events in Winston-Salem. Explore more than 50 of the season’s biggest happenings by checking out our Holiday Events Guide.
Coming to town for the race? You’ve got plenty of nearby lodging options, with dozens of hotels located within a couple miles of the race. Check out our Places to Stay section to find an option close to all the action.
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