Mistletoe Run

Join us on Saturday December 5th for the most wonderful run of the year!

Registration will open June 1st, 2026!

Race Start Times: 1 mile Fun Run: 7:30am | Half Marathon: 8:00am | 5K: 8:15am

Race Location: William G White Jr Family YMCA | Winston-Salem NC

Kick off the holiday season with our YMCA's largest annual fundraiser, The Mistletoe Run! The Mistletoe Run is a family-friendly and community-centered event that includes a certified & chip-timed Half Marathon and 5K course! We also have a 1 mile Fun Run option, live music, food trucks, vendors, community mascots, local cheerleaders, athletes, donuts at the Finish Line and more. Each 5K and Half Marathon participant receives a long-sleeved custom race shirt and Finisher Medal. Our Fun Run participants receive a Finisher ribbon at the end of their race. 

Our Course

The Mistletoe Run is a USATF sanctioned course and begins and ends at the William G White Jr Family YMCA in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. Our 5K runners travel through Winston-Salem’s beautiful Buena Vista neighborhood, while the half marathon course will continue through the Graylyn International Conference Center, Reynolda House and Gardens, through Reynolda Village, onto Wake Forest University’s campus, then circle back around to the Y.

Our Cause

At the YMCA, we believe every child deserves a healthy & active life. We are proud to share that all race proceeds benefit the young people in our community by providing funding for YMCA swim lessons, summer camp, youth sports, before & after school care, teen memberships & more. Our programs build self-confidence, friendships & community while also teaching our young people how to live healthier lives. 

The Mistletoe Half Marathon, 5K, and Fun Run is proudly presented by the law firm of Bell, Davis & Pitt.

This event will be timed using a bibtag timing chips. The timing chip will be on the back of the run number. Please make sure your number is clearly visible on the front of your body. This will not need to be turned back in after the race - it is disposable. It will be a chip time start. That means your time will not start until you reach the start timing mat. Make sure your number is clearly visible on the front of your body. Gun Time is the time the gun/horn started the event. Chip Time is the time your chip crossed the start timing mat. The awards for this event are based on Chip Time.

Awards Ceremony:

• Fun Run and 5K Awards: 9:15 AM

• Half Marathon Awards: 10:30 AM

No duplicate awards will be given. Sorry, we do not ship or hold awards. Age group winners must be present at the award ceremony to receive their award unless there has been a prior conversation with the race director.

Fun Run Awards (8 and under only):
Awards will be given to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female (8 and under only). Participants over 8 years old can participate in the Fun Run but awards are reserved for those ages 8 and under. Each Fun Run Finisher will have the opportunity to receive a Finisher Ribbon at the Finish Line. 

5K Awards:
Awards will be given to the Overall Top 3 M/F and Top 3 M/F Masters Overall of the 5K. Age division awards; 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-80, 81+. Each 5K Finisher will receive a Finisher Medal at the Finish Line.

Half Marathon Awards:
Awards will be given to the Overall Top 3 M/F and Top 3 M/F Masters Overall of the Half Marathon. Age division awards; 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-80, 81+. Each Half Marathon Finisher will receive a Finisher Medal at the Finish Line.

Introducing our 2025 Race Sponsors!

We are so thankful for your support and generosity. 

We are proud that all proceeds from our race directly benefit the William G White Jr Family YMCA and provide funding for youth and teen programs. These programs includes YMCA teen memberships, youth sports, swim lessons, before and after school care, summer camp & more. 

Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors!! We are thankful for your partnership and support of our run. We c

Refund & Cancellation Policy: Due to the fundraising nature of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina's Annual Impact Fund events, entries are non-refundable. Entries also cannot be transferred from person to person. In the event the race should be canceled for reasons beyond the control of the Race Director or Race Committee (inclement weather or unsafe weather conditions; local, state or national emergency), refunds will not be made, but race packets, including race shirts, will be available for pick up at a location to be determined.

Please note: Unless previously communicated to the race director, we do not hold race packets for runners who do not show up on race day. 

The William G White Jr. Family YMCA will offer FREE childcare for runners and their children!

Kids Zone Jr (6 weeks to 5 years) and Kids Zone (5 years -11 years) will be open on from 7:15am-11:30am on race morning. 

Kids Zone Rules:

• Label all personal items with the child's name, including diaper bags, sippy cups, baby bottles (bottles must be premade) and water bottles, etc.

• No food is allowed in Kids Zone. 

• Shoes will be removed in Kids Zone Jr., please make sure your child has socks on.

• No electronics or cell phones are allowed in Kids Zone.

Please remember to allow enough time for check-in prior to your race.

Limited space, so reserve your child's spot today!

Registration for 6 weeks-5 years old: Click here!

Registration for 6 years-11 years old: Click here!

Click the links below for interactive turn-by-turn directions. 

Half Marathon Course Map

5K Course Map

1 Mile Course Map

What time does the race start?

1 mile Fun Run: 7:30am

Half Marathon: 8:00am

5k: 8:15am

Can I register on race day?

No. Race registration will close the Friday night before at midnight.

Where does the entry fee go?

Once we pay for our race expenses, 100% of all monies netted go towards programs that support the children in our community, like swim lessons, youth sports, before & after school care, summer camp and more!

When and where is Packet Pick-up?

Packet pick up will be Friday, December 4, 2026 from 12:00-7:00pm in the upstairs basketball gym at the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA at 775 West End Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27101. We will have very limited packet pick up race morning from 6:15-7:15am. Participants are encouraged to pick up their runner's bag on Friday to avoid being late for their race.

Can my friend pick my packet up for me?

Yes! Please make sure your friend knows if you are running the Fun Run, 5K or Half Marathon. 

Can I pick my packet up early?

No. Please wait until 12:00pm on Friday afternoon. 

What is included in the race packet?

Your race shirt, race bib, special offers from race sponsors and other information will be included when you pick up your packet in- person. Half marathon and 5K finishers will receive their Finisher's Medal at the finish line. And youth Fun Run participants will receive a Finisher's Ribbon!

Where is the start and finish line?

The start and finish lines is located on Sunset Blvd across from the main entrance to the William G White Jr Family YMCA. 

Will you have Gear Check?

Yes! Our Presenting Sponsor, Bell Davis & Pitt hosts our Gear Check in the lobby of the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA. Gear Check will open at 6:30am and close at 11:30am on race morning.

Do you offer childcare while I run?

Yes! We will offer complimentary Child Care inside of our Y for race participants. Child Care is available for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. Child Care will open at 7:15am and close at 11:30am on race morning. Registration is recommended to guarantee your child's spot. Click the Childcare tab under Race Day to register!

Can I volunteer?

Yes! We love volunteers! Please click our Volunteer tab under Participate or contact mistletoe@ymcanwnc.org.  If you are interested in volunteering as a team, please let us know!

Can I cheer participants on from the course?

Yes! We love when the community comes out to support our runners. You are welcome to find a spot along the course route to cheer our participants on. If you are a musician or dance or cheer squad please contact us at mistletoe@ymcanwnc.org for more information.

I'm interested in being a sponsor.

Great! Please contact our race director at mistletoe@ymcanwnc.org for more information. 

I'm interested in being a vendor.

Great! Please contact our race director at mistletoe@ymcanwnc.org for more information.

Are there awards?

Yes! Awards will be given out after each race. No duplicate awards will be given. Sorry, we do not ship or hold awards. Age group winners must be present at the awards ceremony to receive their award unless a prior conversation is had with the race director. You can view more award information on our Awards tab under Race Day. 

Do you allow dogs?

No. While we love our dogs as much as you do, we are a dog-free event. 

Do you allow strollers?

Yes. Please be mindful of our more competitive runners and allow them to be closest to the Starting Line.

Can I walk the race?

Yes! We have lots of walkers every year, especially for our 1 mile Fun Run and our 5K. We do have a 3.5 hour time limit for the Half Marathon and ask walkers to be aware of this. For our half marathon, we request a 16 minute per mile pace or faster. (If you are training on a treadmill, this is a minimum 3.75 mph pace). If you fall below this pace, we can unfortunately no longer guarantee course support—which is paramount for your safety. Aid stations, medical support, portable toilets, and road closures will start to become unavailable and the local police will ask you to move onto the sidewalk where you will be required to obey regular traffic laws. For walkers that walk below this pace, we strongly suggest participating in our 5K or 1 mile for the safest and best experience. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Due to the fundraising nature of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina's Annual Impact Fund events, entries are non-refundable and cannot be transferred from person to person. If you need to change the race distance you registered for (for example if you registered for the half marathon but would like to compete in the 5K instead) please click here for instructions. In the event the race should be canceled for reasons beyond the control of the Race Director or Race Committee (inclement weather or unsafe weather conditions; local, state or national emergency), refunds will not be made, but race packets, including race shirts, will be available for pick up at a location to be determined. Race shirts will not be able to be shipped.

Our Presenting Sponsor, Bell Davis & Pitt hosts our complimentary Gear Check in the lobby of the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA. Gear Check will be open from 6:30am - 11:30am.

We are happy to provide our runners with the opportunity to run in pace groups hosted by Twin City Track Club. 

Do I need to register to run with a pace group? No! Simply look for your pacer at the Start Line. The pacer will be wearing a Twin City Track Club shirt and will be holding a sign with the pace time listed.

Which paces will you provide pace groups for? We will provide pacers for the following pace groups: 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40

Twin City Track Club will also provide sweepers this year to help ensure all runners cross the finish line by the 3.5 hour time cap.

I'm interested in volunteering as a pacer! Who can I contact for more info? Please contact Colleen with Twin City Track Club.

New for 2025! 2025 Boston Marathon Winner, John Korir, will be joining us on race day! He will be leading the 1:30 pace group. This is a rare chance to run alongside a world-class athlete—feel the rhythm, share the road, and get a taste of greatness as you chase your personal best with a champion by your side.

Please view this map for parking options. We are thankful to our community partners for offering their parking lots to us!

Please allow yourself plenty of time to find parking on race morning. Our YMCA is located in downtown Winston Salem and parking can be hard to find. We appreciate your understanding on race morning!

As a reminder, the Y parking lots are reserved for VIP runners, vendors and sponsors. Also, Sunset Drive and West End Blvd will be closed to traffic. 

Come for the run …but stay for some FUN! Join us in the parking lot of the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA for music, food, and fun! We will have bounce houses and games on the grassy knoll, local food trucks serving beverages and snacks for purchase and our sponsors & community partners ready to meet and greet you! You may even see a community mascot or two!

Awards: Our awards ceremony for the Fun Run & 5K will begin at approximately 9:15am and our awards ceremony for the half marathon at approximately 10:30am. 5K and Half Marathon participants will receive their Finisher Awards at the Finish Line. 

Please note: We do not ship or hold awards. Age group winners must be present at the ceremony to receive their award.

Join us for our Race Expo & Packet Pick Up on Friday December 4 from 12:00pm-7:00pm at the William G White Jr. Family YMCA.

Please enter the YMCA at the front entrance on Sunset Blvd. Upon entering the Y, runners will experience our race expo and be able to visit sponsors, vendors & learn more about the race. There will be plenty of giveaways, samples and special discounts. Runners will also receive their race bib, t-shirt and be able to purchase additional race branded swag!

We will also have limited Packet Pick Up Saturday morning from 6:15am-7:15am. We strongly recommend picking your packet up on Friday, if possible.

FAQ about Packet Pick Up:

• Can I pick up for a friend? Yes! Please make sure you know which distance your friend is running.

• Can I pick up before Friday at 12:00pm? No. Please wait until the designated time to pick your packet up.

• What if I don't pick my packet up? Unless you have previously communicated with the race director, we will not hold your packet.

• What is included in my packet? A race shirt, race bib and vendor & sponsor giveaways.

• What if I chose the wrong size race shirt? Due to limited availability, we aren't able to swap shirts at packet pick up. 

Interested in volunteering at Packet Pick Up? Visit our Volunteer tab under Participate. We would love to have you!

Need to make a change to your registration? Change your t-shirt size? Change your race distance from Half Marathon to 5K? 

Follow these directions:

1. Log into your profile in Run Sign Up (if you registered someone under a different profile, then their registration will be under whichever profile they were   registered under)
2. Go to Manage Registration for the Mistletoe Run (make sure you click on “Manage Registration” – if you only click the event name then it will just pull up the website)
3. Use the top menu bar to navigate to the relevant option where you need to make a change
4. To switch events – EVENT TRANSFER
5. To change shirt size – GIVEAWAY
6. To edit Add-ons – ADD-ONS
7. And so on
8. Follow the on screen prompts to complete and save the changes

Race Morning Schedule of Events:

• 6:15-7:15 AM Late Packet Pick Up

• 7:30 AM Fun Run Start

• 8:00 AM Half Marathon Start & Race Opening Ceremony

• 8:15 AM 5K Start

• 9:15 AM Fun Run & 5K Awards Ceremony

• 10:30 AM Half Marathon Awards Ceremony

• 11:30 AM Event Ends (Gear Check and Childcare also closes at this time)

Running Groups: 

Half Marathon Training Program: Our sponsor, Fleet Feet is hosting a 10-week half marathon training program that ends with the Mistletoe Run! With their program powered by ON, you’ll find a holistic training plan to help you cross the finish line feeling empowered. The program begins September 30th. Find out more information here!

Run Like A Fish Run Club: Our sponsor, Fiddlin' Fish Brewing Company hosts a FREE community running club open to beginners through advanced runners. Check them out every Monday night from 6:00pm-8:00pm at their tap room in downtown Winston-Salem.

Crazy Running: Our sponsor, Crazy Running has youth and adult training programs! They are all about sparking a lifelong love for fitness in our athletes! Their coaching style is all blends fun with fitness, ensuring runners are learning essential skills while having a blast. From kids to adults, they shape not just runners, but strong, resilient athletes with a burning passion for the sport. Contact Donnie at donnie@crazyrunning.com for more information.

Upgrade your race experience and register as a VIP during the race registration process! 

The VIP experience includes:

• Reserved parking

• Access to our outdoor VIP Tent, sponsored by Fiddlin' Fish Brewing Company and Bobo's Deli & Grill.

• Upgraded post-race snacks

• 2 complimentary beer tickets (for 21 years of age and up)

• An EXCLUSIVE VIP race item 

• A quicker and easier express lane at Packet Pick Up 

Tickets are very limited and first come first served during the registration process. Register today!!!

The following water/aid stations will be available to runners:

Water Station #1: The intersection of Runnymeade & Warwick 

• Serves 5K and Half Marathon

• Mile 1.8 of 5K and 1.6 and 11.9 of Half 

• Water and Gatorade

Water Station #2: 632 Oaklawn

• Serves Half Marathon

• Mile 4.3 and 10.4

• Water and Gatorade

NEW FOR 2025: Water Station #3: Wake Forest Campus (at the corner of Faculty and Timberlake)

• Serves Half Marathon

• Mile 7.5 and 9.5

• Water and Gatorade