Running of the Lights

Start your New Year with a healthy tradition at Running of the Lights! This unique January race begins at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day and takes participants on a magical run or walk through the dazzling Tanglewood Festival of Lights in Clemmons, North Carolina. Choose between the 5K(ish) Run/Walk or the 1.75 Mile Fun Run/Walk and experience a one-of-a-kind course that transforms the park’s Christmas wonderland into your personal race route.

Before the race, you’ll join hundreds of fellow participants for a celebratory toast and a live stream of the New York City Times Square Ball Drop right at the start line. At the finish, warm up with hot chocolate, snacks, and post-race cheer—a perfect way to celebrate the arrival of 2026.

Why People Run the Running of the Lights

• Kick off the New Year in a fun, healthy way with friends and family
• Run or walk through the lights at Tanglewood Park, normally only open to cars
• Experience a Christmas wonderland of glowing displays on foot
• Earn a custom finisher medal
• Receive a high-quality long-sleeve race shirt
• Enjoy a festive New Year’s party atmosphere at the start and finish
• Watch the Times Square Ball Drop live feed before you run
• Celebrate after with hot chocolate, snacks, and post-race camaraderie
• Access free race photos and live results
• Compete for unique awards in the 5K

Event Details

• Date: Midnight, January 1, 2027 (race begins at the stroke of midnight)
• Location: Tanglewood Park, Clemmons, NC
• Distances: 5K Run/Walk or 1.75 Mile Fun Run/Walk
• Registration Options: Regular Registration (shirt + medal + full perks), Economy Registration, and Virtual Registration

Start Your Year Bright

If you’re looking for more than just a race, Running of the Lights is an experience. Families, friends, and runners of all levels gather to close out the old year and welcome the new with fitness, fun, and light-filled memories. Whether you’re chasing a PR or enjoying a casual stroll, this event is the perfect way to say goodbye to 2026 and hello to 2027.

Want to enjoy the lights at a laid back pace? Walk or run the Fun Run! The Fun Run course flows in a circle through the Festival of Lights and gives a great opportunity for all abilities to enjoy the lights on foot while starting the year out on a healthy note with your family!

The Running of the Lights 5Kish utilizes the beautiful Tanglewood Park roads to travel through the Festival on Lights on foot! Athletes will have volunteers/police and turn signs at every turn. This course has become a family favorite and is a great race for seasoned veterans and first timers alike! Run a PR or come out and walk, either way you will be able to celebrate the New Year with delicious hot chocolate and/or bubbly toast when you cross the finish line!

*In all transparency, this "5K" is about 3.25 miles instead of 3.1*

Michigan

Mega Medal Series

Prove It 5K/10K:  May at the GM Milford Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan

Trenton Summerfest Half Marthon, 8K, & 5K:  June at Elizabeth Park in Trenton, Michigan

Dearborn Decades 5K:  August at Ford Field Park in Dearborn, Michigan

Run the 313 5K:  August at Palmer Park in Detroit, Michigan

Growler Gallop Atwater 10 Mile & 5K:  September at Atwater Brewery in Detroit, Michigan

Black Toenail Friday Half Marathon & 7.5 Mile:  November at Proud Lake Rec Area in Commerce Township, Michigan

Trail

Winter Trail Fest (WTF) East Half Marathon & 5 Mile:  February at Island Lake Rec Area in Brighton, Michigan

Winter Trail Fest (WTF) West Half Marathon & 5 Mile:  February at Yankee Springs Rec Area in Middleville, Michigan

Carpe Diem Carpe Noctem Morning & Evening Half Marathon & 10K:  April at Proud Lake Rec Area in Commerce Township, Michigan

Summer Trail Fest Ultra (STFU) 50K, Half Marathon, & 5 Mile:  June 14 Sleepy Hollow Rec Area in Laingsburg, Michigan

Moonlight Bootlegger 5k:  May 10 at Maybury State Park in Northville, Michigan

Wolverine State 100 100M, 100K, 100M Relay, & 50K:  October from Petoskey to Alpena in Northern Michigan

Road

Thumb Coast Ultra & Relay 50M, 50K, & 50M Relay:  April from Harbor Beach to Caseville in Michigan's Thumb

GRR Runway 5K:  June on the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Runway in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Rock CF Thumb Coast Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5K:  November from Caseville to Port Austin in Michigan's Thumb

North Carolina

Road Mega Medal Series

Only Fools Run Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K:  March at Jaycee Park in Greensboro, North Carolina

Pig Pounder Brewery 5K:  April the Pig Pounder Brewery in Greensboro, North Carolina

Elm Street Run Festival:  May at LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro Distilling Speakeasy 5k:  June at Greensboro Distilling Co. and SouthEnd Brewing in Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro Half Marathon, 5K, & 1 Mile:  November starting at Battleground Ave in Greensboro, North Carolina

Trail Mega Medal Series

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Half Marathon & 5 Mile:  January at Northeast Park in Gibsonville, North Carolina

Northern Trails 17 Mile, 10 Mile & 5 Mile:  March at Northern Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina

Owls Roost Rumble Half Marathon & 4 Mile:  April at Bur-Mil Park in Greensboro, North Carolina

Triple Lakes Trail Race 40 Mile, Marathon, & Half Marathon: October  at Bur-Mil Park in Greensboro, North Carolina

Belews Lake Sprint Triathlon: April at Belews Lake Marina in Stokesdale, North Carolina

High Point Sprint Triathlon:  August at Oak Hollow Marina in High Point, North Carolina

Belews Lake Olympic Triathlon:  September at Belews Lake Marina in Stokesdale, North Carolina

Nat Greene's Revenge Triathlon: October at Lake Brandt Marina in Greensboro, North Carolina

Multisport 

Northeast Park Duathlon:  February at Northeast Park in Gibsonville, North Carolina

Trivium Triple Threat Triathlon: June at Lake Cammack in Burlington, North Carolina

Groundhog’s Lap Race: February at Haw River State Park, North Carolina

Carpe Diem Carpe Noctem Morning & Evening Half Marathon & 10K:  September at Hagan-Stone Park in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina

Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra & Relay:  September in Danbury, North Carolina

Black Toenail Friday Half Marathon and 7.5 Miler: November at Snow Camp, North Carolina

Running of the Lights:  January 1st at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, North Carolina

Blackbeard's Revenge 100 Ultra & Relay 100M, 100K, & 100M Relay:  March in the Outer Banks in Corolla, North Carolina

Pennsylvania

End of the Road Half Marathon & One Tunnel 4 Mile:  October on the old Pennsylvania Turnpike in Waterfall, Pennsylvania

West Virginia

Highball to Thurmond Ultra & Relay 50M, 50K, & 50M Relay:  May in New River Gorge National Park, running from Montgomery to Thurmond, West Virginia

Click here to view the Running of the Lights Athlete Guide. 

We are partnering with St. Peter's Church for the 2024/2025 giving season!

St. Peter’s Church was founded in 1928 on Fauling Street in Winston-Salem, NC with twenty-five members. Rapid growth led to a move to Highland Avenue and ultimately Old Lexington Road, where we are located today on a beautiful 75-acre campus.

Dr. James C. Hash, Sr. became senior pastor of St. Peter’s World Outreach Center in 1987. Receiving the pastoralship of SPWOC upon retirement of his father, the late Bishop R.K. Hash, Sr., Bishop Hash took the torch and ran fervently. As a result of his anointing to do great exploits for God, SPWOC has grown phenomenally. Bishop Hash’s powerful teaching of the Word of God combined with his bold stand against mediocrity provides the foundation for individuals to launch into the world to reach the lost, the hurting, the captive, the sick and the brokenhearted.

Early Packet Pick Up

• Tuesday, December 29th
  • 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Fleet Feet Greensboro 3731 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27455
• Wednesday, December 30th 
  
  • 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Fleet Feet Clemmons 6339 Jessie Ln, Clemmons, NC 27012

Race Day

• 10:15 PM: Race Day Registration Opens/Packet Pick Up
• 11:45 PM: Registration Closes
• 12:00 AM: 5K Starts 
• 12:05 AM: 1.75 Mile Starts
• 1:00 AM: Awards ceremony (subject to be rolling awards if short on volunteers) (approx)

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Winston - Salem SW - Clemmons
6330 Jessie Lane
Clemmons, NC 27012

We will park participants in two locations on race day. We will fill up the designated parking areas next to the Pool Area. There are about 800 parking spaces available at the Pool Area location. Please arrive early. Once that location is full, we will have overflow parking at the Golf Country Club Parking Lots.

All participants MUST ENTER Tanglewood Park through the BACK ENTRANCE off of Idols Rd.

You will not be able to enter Tanglewood Park at the entrance on Clemmons Rd/Hwy 158!

The gate on Idols Rd will open at EXACTLY 10:00PM and close at EXACTLY 11:45PM.

Directions to the Back Gate entrance: CLICK HERE

The back gate entrance and exit is used for Running of the Lights participants/spectators/volunteers ONLY.

Running of the Lights offers a referral code program. This is a fun & easy way to get your friends to sign up to race with you, plus you get a little money back on your registration fee!

Referral incentives

• 5K Participants: Refer 5 people who sign up to race and you get a $15 race registration refund
• 1.75 Mile Participants: Refer 5 people who sign up to race and you get a $10 race registration refund

How does this work? Share your specific referral code link that you were given when you signed up to race. Once you get 5 people to register using your code, you will get your registration refund. Start sharing your link today! 

You can also locate your personal referral link by clicking this link for instructions.

Testimonials from past participants

• The 5K will be chip timed by Trivium Racing
• Awards will be given to the 3 overall males and females
• Awards to the top 3 males and females in the following age groups: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74,75-79, 80+
• Awards will be rolling - Come to the timing tent after you check your results and we will present you with your award.
• There will be no formal awards ceremony therefore awards not picked up on race night will be subject to a $10 shipping fee. Awards will only be mailed 2 weeks from the event date.
   

Thanks for joining us in spirit for the Running of the Lights!

To complete your virtual race and receive your finisher medal and shirt, follow these steps:

• Run your 5 Mile or Half Marathon at a place and time of your choosing.
• Track your time with a watch or fitness app.
• Report your time on our results page by clicking "Submit Virtual Results" at the top of the page. Results can be submitted anytime between December 15th and December 31st. Don't forget to share your virtual race selfies too!

Shirts and finisher medals will be mailed within 10 days of the in-person race day. Please double check that your mailing address is correct on your registration before race day. No packets will be available after January 10th.

Virtual participants are not eligible for awards. An extra charge will be applied for international shipping.

Any changes to virtual on or after race day will be subject a shipping charge.

Regular Registration

• Custom Running of the Lights Shirt (participants can check shirt size availability durng registration)
• Finishers Medal
• New Year's Party Atmosphere and Celebratory Toast!
• Time Square Ball Drop Streamed at the Start Line
• Race photos
• Live results
• Unique awards
• Post Race Food and Drinks

Economy Registration

• New Year's Party Atmosphere and Celebratory Toast!
• Time Square Ball Drop Streamed at the Start Line
• Race photos
• Live results
• Unique awards

Virtual Registration

• Custom Running of the Lights Shirt (sizes not guaranteed within 2 weeks of race day)
• Finishers Medal