New Hampshire fun runs
21 seasonal, themed and one-of-a-kind fun runs in New Hampshire.
Holiday and seasonal: 7 · Food and drink: 6 · Novelty course: 4 · Quirky format: 3 · Iconic tradition: 1
- Novelty course Great Island 5K Runs through the historic island town of New Castle at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, and claims the largest free raffle in New England.
- Novelty course Cranmore Mountain Race Runners go up and down a ski mountain over grassy slopes, bike singletrack and service roads, either once (5K) or twice (10K) at peak foliage.
- Holiday and seasonal The Runaway Pumpkin 10K & 5K A pumpkin-themed Lakes Region race (700+ runners) around Lake Opechee and down the WOW Trail, with 'delicious' age-group prizes and costumes or orange encouraged for the kids' run.
- Holiday and seasonal All Star Smiles Trick or Trot 3K A Halloween-day 3K out of Backyard Brewery with a kids' Halloween festival (magic show, animals), Lil' Pumpkin dashes and a beer ticket for adults.
- Food and drink NH Sneaker Brigade Donut Dash A Halloween-day 'spooky' 5K with fresh donuts waiting for every finisher.
- Holiday and seasonal Dartmouth Health Fisher Cats Thanksgiving 5K A Thanksgiving 5K that starts and finishes at center field of the Fisher Cats' ballpark, with a Lil' Turkey Trot for kids on the warning track.
- Holiday and seasonal Santa Claus Shuffle A mass of Santas runs down Manchester's Elm Street, with costume awards and a Lil' Elf Run for kids.
- Holiday and seasonal Jingle Bell Run New Hampshire Arthritis Foundation holiday 5K where runners wear jingle bells and festive costumes.
- Quirky format Apple Therapy + Sports & Rehab Millennium Mile A point-to-point downhill mile on New Year's Day afternoon, with a competitive wave and a family wave down Mammoth Road.
- Holiday and seasonal New Year's Day Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5K Walk/Run A quirkily named New Year's Day 5K that has been a Temple tradition for nearly 50 years.
- Novelty course Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race 'There's only one hill': 7.6 miles straight up the Mt. Washington Auto Road, 4,650 vertical feet with grades up to 22%, to a summit known for the world's worst weather.
- Food and drink Back to the Brewfest 5K A challenging 5K that finishes beside the Claremont Kiwanis Brewfest, a 21+ tasting of dozens of New England breweries on the Visitor Center Green.
- Food and drink Barnstead's Old Home Day Run for Pancakes 5K A flat, fast 5K on the morning of Barnstead Old Home Day that ends at the town pancake breakfast.
- Quirky format Center Harbor Footraces (July 4th) A Lake Winnipesaukee Fourth of July tradition with a 1.776-mile race and a Baby Crawl alongside the 5-miler.
- Food and drink Claremont Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off 5K A noon 5K that kicks off a downtown chili cook-off, with festival admission included in race entry.
- Food and drink Harvard Pilgrim Seafood Fest 5K An out-and-back along Route 1A that finishes on the sand of Hampton Beach, with entry to the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival and a beer in its beach beer garden.
- Novelty course Loon Mountain Race Climbs to Loon's North Peak finish via 'Upper Walking Boss', a black-diamond ski slope pitched at 40%; spectators ride the gondola up to watch.
- Iconic tradition Market Square Day 10K Opens Portsmouth's 49-year-old Market Square Day street festival, starting in front of North Church and finishing at historic Strawbery Banke.
- Quirky format Reach the Beach Relay Overnight road relay from the White Mountains to the New Hampshire seacoast.
- Holiday and seasonal Shamrock Shuffle A two-mile St. Patrick's run down Canal Street from Harpoon Brewery, with Celtic music and a free Harpoon beer in the on-site beer garden.
- Food and drink Zorvino Vineyards Wine Run 5K A sold-out 5K that starts and ends with a loop of the vines at a New Hampshire winery, with a pour of wine in a collapsible glass at the finish.