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Hot Chocolate Runs

Hot chocolate and hot cocoa runs across the U.S., from local 5Ks to the Hot Chocolate Run series, with dates, fees and finisher treats.

By · Published · Facts checked

What are hot chocolate runs?

Hot chocolate runs are cold-weather races that end with hot chocolate. The best known is the Hot Chocolate Run series in 17 U.S. cities, mostly 5K, 10K and 15K, where finishers get a medal and a mug of hot chocolate with fondue.123 Many towns also hold local hot chocolate or hot cocoa 5Ks.

Hot Chocolate Run series: 2026–27 cities and dates (checked November 10, 2026)
CityRace dayStart areaDistancesStart times
Minneapolis, MN5Sat, Nov 14, 20262Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley St NE55K, 10K, 15K55K starts 8:10 AM, 10K and 15K 9:10 AM5
Columbus, OH6Sun, Nov 15, 20262Near North Bank Park by the Scioto River; post-race party at McFerson Commons, 218 West St65K, 10K, 15K65K 7:30 AM, 10K and 15K 8:30 AM6
St. Louis, MO7Sun, Dec 6, 20262Kaufman Park, 1200 Chestnut St75K and 15K only75K and 15K both 7:30 AM (subject to change)7
Phoenix, AZ8Sun, Dec 6, 20262Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, 1700 W Washington St (start and finish)85K, 10K, 15K85K 7:25 AM, 10K and 15K 8:35 AM8
Louisville, KY9Sat, Dec 12, 20262Waterfront Park, TurfMutt Great Lawn South, 231 E Witherspoon St95K, 10K, 15K95K 7:30 AM, 10K and 15K 8:00 AM9
Tampa, FL10Sun, Dec 13, 20262Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, 601 Water St (start and finish)105K, 10K, 15K105K 7:00 AM, 10K and 15K 8:00 AM10
San Francisco, CA11Sun, Jan 10, 20272Golden Gate Park near the Music Concourse (start and finish)115K, 10K, 15K115K 7:20 AM, 10K and 15K 8:10 AM11
San Diego, CA12Sun, Jan 24, 20272Petco Park Tailgate Lots, 1235 K St125K, 10K, 15K125K 7:00 AM, 10K and 15K 8:00 AM12
Houston, TX13Sat, Jan 30, 20272Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby St (start and finish)135K, 10K, 10 Mile (no 15K)135K 7:15 AM, 10K and 10 Mile 8:15 AM13
Atlanta, GA14Sun, Jan 31, 20272Centennial Olympic Park, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW145K and 15K only14Wave 1 at 7:30 AM (all 15K, some 5K), wave 2 at 8:00 AM (5K)14
Dallas, TX15Sat, Feb 6, 20272Fair Park, 1010 1st Ave (start and finish)155K, 10K, 15K155K 7:30 AM, 10K and 15K 8:30 AM15
Charlotte, NC16Sat, Feb 13, 20272First Ward Park, 301 E 7th St165K, 10K, 15K165K 7:20 AM, 10K and 15K 8:00 AM16
Seattle, WA17Sun, Feb 28, 20272Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St (start and finish)175K, 10K, 15K175K 7:00 AM, 10K and 15K 7:55 AM17
Nashville, TN18Sat, Mar 27, 20272Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 600 James Robertson Pkwy (start and finish)185K, 10K, 15K185K 6:30 AM, 10K and 15K 7:20 AM18
Philadelphia, PA19Sat, Apr 3, 20272Eakins Oval, 2451 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, finishing near the Rocky statue195K, 10K, 15K195K 7:15 AM, 10K and 15K 8:00 AM19
Denver, CO20Sun, Oct 3, 20272Washington Park, 701 S Franklin St205K, 10K, 15K205K 7:00 AM, 10K and 15K 8:30 AM20
Chicago, IL21Sun, Nov 7, 20272Grant Park, 301 S Columbus Dr, start by the Art Institute and the Bean, finish at Buckingham Fountain215K, 10K, 15K and a 2-mile walk; 2027 details still coming21Listed as 7:30 AM for the 5K, 10K and 15K and about 9:15 AM for the walk; 2027 details still coming21
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Next 10: Hot Chocolate Runs
RaceDateCityDistancesCurrent Fee
Seminole Chieftain Band Hot Cocoa 5k & 1 Mile Fun RunSeminole, OK5K, 1 Mile$25
SEAFORD WELLNESS COUNCIL HOT CHOCOLATE 5K RUN/WALKSeaford, NY5K$36
Santa's Hot Chocolate RunLake Charles, LA5K$30
Hot Chocolate & Eggnog RacesLockbourne, OH5K, 10K, 1 Mile, 100mFree
Charlevoix Hot Cocoa RunCharlevoix, MI5K, 1 Mile$10
Hanukkah Hot Cocoa Run 5k/1k/1mileTucson, AZ5K, 1 Mile$25
Morris Hot Cocoa 5k + 10k, December 12th, 10 amMorris Plains, NJ5K$35
Holiday Hot Cocoa Hustle 5KEagle, ID5K, 1 Mile$12
New Year’s Day 5k/10K Hot Chocolate Run 2027Salisbury, MD5K, 10K$35
YMCA of Pueblo Hot Chocolate 5KPueblo, CO5K$40

By state

15 races scouted

Distance
Surface
15 races

PoHo Hot Cocoa 2027

· Port Huron, MI

  • 10 Miles
  • 10K
  • 5K
  • 1 Mile
from $30$55 on

Hot Chocolate 5K

· Stevensville, MD

  • 5K
  • Trail
  • Dog-Friendly
from $40

Quick answers

What Hot Chocolate Runs are in the U.S. this month?

1 Hot Chocolate Runs is scheduled in the U.S. for the rest of November, including Seminole Chieftain Band Hot Cocoa 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run (Sat, Nov 28, Seminole).

How much do Hot Chocolate Runs in the U.S. cost?

Current entry fees for Hot Chocolate Runs in the U.S. range from $10 to $45, with a typical fee around $30. The lowest current fee is Charlevoix Hot Cocoa Run at $10. Fees usually rise as race day approaches.

Which Hot Chocolate Runs in the U.S. raise their price soonest?

Morris Hot Cocoa 5k + 10k, December 12th, 10 am goes from $35 to $40 on Fri, Nov 13, Santa's Hot Chocolate Run goes from $30 to $35 on Sat, Nov 14, SEAFORD WELLNESS COUNCIL HOT CHOCOLATE 5K RUN/WALK goes from $40 to $43 on Sun, Nov 15, and Seminole Chieftain Band Hot Cocoa 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run goes from $35 to $40 on Tue, Nov 17.

The Hot Chocolate Run series

The Hot Chocolate Run is a national series of races held in 17 U.S. cities, plus a virtual option that runs through April 2027.2 The official site credits Ventures Endurance Events LLC, with Skechers as title sponsor.13

Most cities offer a 5K, a 10K and a 15K.1 Houston has a 10 Mile in place of the 15K, St. Louis and Atlanta list only a 5K and a 15K, and Chicago adds a 2-mile walk.1371421

Every finisher gets a medal and a finisher mug of hot chocolate with chocolate fondue and dippables, plus a commemorative bib, free race photos and entry to the post-run party.13 A Skechers fleece jacket is included with registration.13

How do you sign up for a Hot Chocolate Run?

  1. Pick your city on the official cities page and open its event page.2
  2. Register online before noon the day before the race; after that, the only way in is in person at the expo, and there is no race-day registration.3
  3. Add American Cancer Society fundraising during registration if you want to; the charity is the series' partner.4
  4. Use Manage Booking afterwards for transfers, size changes, deferrals or Refund Protect.3

Pace, ages and policies

Walkers are asked to keep about a 15-minute-per-mile pace; below that, course support is not guaranteed.3 The FAQ lists no overall finish-time cutoff.3

Minimum ages are 8 for the 5K, 10 for the 10K, and 12 for the 15K and 10 Mile; the 2-mile walk is open to all ages.3

All sales are final.3 You can defer only to another Hot Chocolate Run in the same calendar year or to the virtual run, at least three weeks before your race.3

Local hot chocolate and hot cocoa runs

Outside the national series, many towns hold their own hot chocolate or hot cocoa race, and most of the ones Bib Scouts tracks are 5Ks. The list on this page shows every one, with today's entry fee and the date the price goes up, so you can find one near you if the series doesn't come to your city.

Sources

Every fact above links to the page it came from. Pages were read on the “facts checked” date in the byline.

  1. Hot Chocolate Run (official): home page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  2. Hot Chocolate Run (official): cities and dates (hotchocolate15k.com)
  3. Hot Chocolate Run (official): FAQ (hotchocolate15k.com)
  4. Hot Chocolate Run (official): charity (hotchocolate15k.com)
  5. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Minneapolis page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  6. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Columbus page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  7. Hot Chocolate Run (official): St. Louis page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  8. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Phoenix page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  9. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Louisville page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  10. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Tampa page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  11. Hot Chocolate Run (official): San Francisco page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  12. Hot Chocolate Run (official): San Diego page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  13. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Houston page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  14. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Atlanta page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  15. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Dallas page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  16. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Charlotte page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  17. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Seattle page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  18. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Nashville page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  19. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Philadelphia page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  20. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Denver page (hotchocolate15k.com)
  21. Hot Chocolate Run (official): Chicago page (hotchocolate15k.com)