The Santa Run: Pacific Beach’s Biggest Holiday Event
Santa will arrive in San Diego on Christmas Eve, but he may just make a pit stop at the Santa Run in Pacific Beach this Saturday.
The Santa Run is San Diego’s most festive 5K race, with thousands of participants donning their best outfits emulating Old Saint Nick and running through the bustling Pacific Beach neighborhood. This year, the run is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14.
The event is organized by the San Diego Running Co., and it clocks in as the biggest “Santa run” in California. More than that, the event — which has drawn more than 30,000 Santas — was voted the Best Fun Run by USA Today last year.
If you’re interested in running in the San Diego Santa Run, registration is open through the day of the event. The full 5K costs $59.99 to register, while both Kid Mile and Dog Mile events cost $39.99 each.
The Santa Run officially kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, with a second run at 10 a.m. The start line is at 912 Garnet Ave. The Kids Mile starts at 11:30 a.m., while the Dog Mile starts at noon.
Early packet pick-ups are available on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Road Runner Sports or Friday, Dec. 13 at the parking lot on 845 Garnet Ave.
Along with the festive run, there will also be a PB Holiday Parade on Saturday starting at 1 p.m., so you can continue the holiday festivities dressed in your best Santa outfit.
Don’t have a Santa costume? Not to worry. All race participants will receive a Santa suit, Santa Run sunglasses, a custom bib, and a complimentary drink ticket.
To register or for more information, visit the San Diego Running Co.’s website.
Media credit: Image courtesy of sandiegorunningco.com
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
