Hillsborough Running Club is proud to present the 6th annual Running of the Elves event.
Run in front of the Hillsborough Holiday Parade crowd. The race starts 10 minutes before the Parade begins, and follows the same route. Experience the joy of running fast downhill in front of thousands of cheering people.
Elf themed. Each participant has the option to select an Elf t-shirt, an Elf hat, and bells.
You are expected to wear these during the run. We want to see a sea of Elves running though town. Please make sure you know where your shirt and hat are and that they fit. If you forgot to order during registration, or you find you cannot locate them from last year, use the Store menu to order what you need.
If you have a favorite Elf costume, feel free to wear that instead.
This is a 1 mile, fast, downhill (mostly) timed and themed race.
Date: 7th December 2025
Time: 4.00pm race start
Start location - on Mitchell Street downtown Hillsborough
Finish location - Churton Street, outside the Historic Courthouse
Chip timed by Cardinal Race Timing
Race entry before add ons (shirt, hat, bells) is $20.00
Bib/Shirt/Hat pick up
Saturday 6th December, Farmers Market Pavilion, 1-5pm
Sunday 7th December, 3-3.45pm corner of Lydia and Queen Streets near the start line, prior to the race [do not wait until after 3.30pm to arrive]
Parking
Hillsborough will be busy, so do not wait too long to arrive. Main parking areas are the parking deck next to Weaver Street Market on Nash and Kollock Street, or River Park Elementary School on St. Marys Road (close to the start area)
Pets and Stollers are welcome, but please keep moving, as the Parade will be underway as soon as the last person makes the turn onto Churton Street.
Dec 07, 2025
Distance — 5K
Type — Running
-79 days remaining
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for December in Hillsborough.
Learn more about the host city, Hillsborough.
Hillsborough is an incredibly historic town in North Carolina, important to the history of the state. Easily accessible from nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, it has a cute historic downtown and a "small town" feel.
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