New Jersey fun runs
86 seasonal, themed and one-of-a-kind fun runs in New Jersey.
Novelty course: 25 · Holiday and seasonal: 23 · Iconic tradition: 11 · Food and drink: 10 · Costume and theme: 9 · Mud and obstacle: 4 · Quirky format: 3 · Animals: 1
- Animals Paw Prints PetFest & 5K A 5K paired with a free pet festival in Smithville Park, benefiting the Burlington County Animal Shelter.
- Food and drink Run the Vineyards - White Horse 10K/5K A vineyard-and-country-roads 10K/5K that ends with a glass of wine and a souvenir wine glass at White Horse Winery.
- Novelty course 18 Mile Run & 12K Run/Walk Runs the entire length of Long Beach Island, from Holgate to a finish at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
- Novelty course Batsto Village 5K (RevolutionNJ Race Series) The finale of the state's Revolutionary War race series runs through historic Batsto Village in the Pine Barrens.
- Novelty course Run for the Animals (Cohanzick Zoo) A 5K that starts and finishes at Cohanzick Zoo, New Jersey's first zoo (1934).
- Quirky format BadgerPalooza A backyard-style ultra at a winery where runners start a new 5K at the top of every hour for up to 24 hours (74.4 miles).
- Iconic tradition AmeriHealth Atlantic City Marathon Running since 1958 and billed as the third-oldest ongoing U.S. marathon, it starts and finishes on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
- Quirky format Bedlam in Blairstown Fall Festival & Bed Races A small-town fall festival whose centerpiece is bed racing through Footbridge Park.
- Novelty course Jonas Cattell Memorial 10-mile Run & Fort Mercer 5K A point-to-point 10-miler that retraces Jonas Cattell's 1777 run from Haddonfield to warn Fort Mercer, finishing at Red Bank Battlefield.
- Costume and theme Clinton Road Zombie Run A zombie crawl, 5K and 10K on Clinton Road, New Jersey's most notorious 'haunted' road.
- Food and drink Glasstown Boos and Brews 10K/5K/Beer Mile A Halloween road race weekend that adds a beer mile and a costume party with Glasstown craft beer.
- Costume and theme Monster Dash 5K A Halloween boardwalk 5K with eight costume categories, followed by Jenkinson's Boo! at the Boardwalk.
- Costume and theme The Skeleton Run Every runner gets a skeleton suit for a closed Halloween 5K through the grounds of former Fort Monmouth.
- Costume and theme HoBOOken 5K Hoboken's largest 5K is a costume-optional Halloween race at Pier A that drew more than 2,100 runners in 2025.
- Costume and theme HomeFront's Halloween Run, Walk, and Family Fun A fully Halloween-themed 5K with live bands and surprises along the course, costume contests and trunk-or-treat.
- Costume and theme Haunted Jersey City Halloween 5K A Halloween-day costume 5K from the Colgate Clock on the Jersey City waterfront with Manhattan skyline views.
- Novelty course Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge A 10K that crosses the Ben Franklin Bridge on foot from Camden into Philadelphia and back.
- Novelty course Trail of Two Cities 5K Run/Walk A point-to-point 5K from Ocean City to Somers Point along the Route 52 causeway in lanes normally used by cars.
- Novelty course Giants Foundation 5K presented by Quest Runners finish in the Giants' end zone at MetLife Stadium, and kids run a 100-yard dash out of the players' tunnel.
- Novelty course Cross Keys Runway 5K A 5K at Cross Keys Airport run by an aviation club to fund flight-training scholarships.
- Holiday and seasonal Thanks4Giving - Turkey Dash & Splash Special Olympics NJ pairs a timed boardwalk 5K through three shore towns with an optional November plunge into the Atlantic.
- Iconic tradition Hoboken's Annual Turkey Trot 5K A Saturday-before-Thanksgiving 5K along the Hudson with Manhattan skyline views the whole way.
- Iconic tradition Manasquan Turkey Trot A 43-year Manasquan tradition whose five-mile course passes the town's pubs on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
- Food and drink Riviera Maya Taco Trot 5K A November lakeside 5K that ends with free tacos and a live mariachi performance.
- Iconic tradition Ashenfelter 8K Classic & The Tom Fleming 2K A Thanksgiving 8K named for Glen Ridge's 1952 Olympic steeplechase champion Horace Ashenfelter, with a 2K honoring two-time NYC Marathon winner Tom Fleming.
- Iconic tradition CEA/Johanna Foods Turkey Trot Billed as New Jersey's original turkey trot, it draws upwards of 6,000 runners and walkers through historic Flemington each Thanksgiving.
- Novelty course Fast and the Furriest 5K Turkey Trot A Thanksgiving trot run entirely on the Ocean City Boardwalk, benefiting the Humane Society of Ocean City.
- Novelty course Lambertville - New Hope Two Town Turkey Trot A Thanksgiving 5K run in two states, crossing the Lambertville–New Hope bridge over the Delaware.
- Novelty course Princeton Trinity Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk A Thanksgiving 5K through downtown Princeton that passes Albert Einstein's house and Princeton University.
- Iconic tradition Read Feed Run Turkey Trot One of Morris County's largest races, this Thanksgiving 5K draws about 3,000 participants.
- Iconic tradition Sparta Education Foundation Turkey Trot Sparta's "Tradition Before the Tradition" turns 20, sending thousands through White Deer Plaza on Thanksgiving morning.
- Novelty course TJ Hunt Memorial Foundation Turkey Trot A Thanksgiving 5K that loops onto the Wildwood Boardwalk and ends at MudHen Brewing.
- Holiday and seasonal Turkey Trot for Education A Thanksgiving-morning 5K with a baked potato scavenger hunt and an awards party at Farmers & Bankers Brewing.
- Iconic tradition Upper Saddle River 5K Run Billed as one of the largest Thanksgiving Day races in New Jersey.
- Food and drink Black Friday Anniversary Beer Trail Run A 21+ hop-farm race of five grass-and-gravel laps with a 10 oz beer before each lap, held on Black Friday.
- Holiday and seasonal Brigantine Ugly Sweater Run & Family Frolic An ugly-sweater 10K and 5K on Small Business Saturday on Brigantine island, with sweater contests and hot cocoa after.
- Costume and theme Haddon Township Turkey Trot 5k A 1,000-plus-runner Thanksgiving-weekend 5K with a turkey costume contest and a post-race gathering at The Pour House.
- Iconic tradition Westfield Turkey Trot A five-mile trot held the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year since 1984.
- Holiday and seasonal Asbury Park Santa Run Thousands of runners in included Santa suits run a closed 5K and finish at after-parties in Asbury Park music venues including the Stone Pony.
- Holiday and seasonal Cranford Santa Donut Run 5K Hundreds of runners in Santa shirts and hats run a flat 5K and finish with donuts.
- Holiday and seasonal Haddonfield Snowflake Run A December 5K at Crows Woods that opens with a holiday costume contest.
- Holiday and seasonal Jingle Bell Run New Jersey Arthritis Foundation holiday 5K where runners wear jingle bells and festive costumes.
- Food and drink Montclair Doughnut Run Montclair Bread's December 5K ends with treats in a collectible mason jar, and elite runners chase a rival racing in a doughnut costume.
- Novelty course Racefaster through the Mall: Santa Run A certified 5K run entirely indoors through the halls of the American Dream mall.
- Holiday and seasonal Hoboken's Jingle Bell 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run Every runner gets a full Santa suit for this Hudson waterfront 5K at Pier A with Manhattan skyline views.
- Holiday and seasonal Sleigh the Shore 5K An afternoon holiday 5K on Long Beach Island that starts and ends at Ship Bottom Brewery with a Holiday Village after-party.
- Holiday and seasonal Reindeer Run 5K / Kids Fun Run at Renault Winery A holiday-themed 5K past Renault Winery's vineyards and its Vintner Wonderland festival grounds.
- Holiday and seasonal Asbury Park Polar Bear Races A 63-year Shore Athletic Club winter boardwalk race held in the week between Christmas and New Year's.
- Holiday and seasonal JSRC New Year's Eve Twilight 2-Mile Fun Run/Walk & Party A New Year's Eve twilight run on the Manasquan beachfront that ends with a free buffet at Leggett's Sand Bar.
- Holiday and seasonal 1st Day 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk An 11 AM New Year's Day 5K timed late enough for New Year's Eve recovery.
- Holiday and seasonal CopLine Run for the Call A New Year's Day 5K on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk.
- Holiday and seasonal First Day 5K A New Year's Day boardwalk 5K that warms runners up for Ocean City's First Plunge into the Atlantic.
- Holiday and seasonal Hangover 5K A 40-plus-year New Year's Day noon 5K, capped at 750 runners, with a custom hoodie.
- Holiday and seasonal Hangover Run 5K A noon New Year's Day family 5K run/walk in Williamstown.
- Holiday and seasonal Mike's Seafood 5K Run/Walk for Autism (Polar Bear Run) A February polar-bear run on Sea Isle City's promenade that draws more than 4,000 people, with a buffet in heated tents afterward.
- Novelty course Manasquan Beach Fun Run/Walk & Party A midwinter two-mile run whose last quarter mile is on the sand, followed by a party.
- Holiday and seasonal Mount Holly St. Patrick's 5K & 1 Mile Kids Run / 1 Mile Family Fun Run / Walk A St. Patrick's 5K through historic Mount Holly a couple of hours before the town's parade.
- Holiday and seasonal The Lucky Run Billed as South Jersey's largest Irish-themed 5K, with after-parties in downtown Pitman.
- Holiday and seasonal Run O' the Mill 5K A St. Patrick's weekend 5K in Clinton founded by hometown 2012 Olympian Julie Culley.
- Holiday and seasonal St. Paddy's Day 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run A March 5K with special prizes for the best costumes and pizza at the finish.
- Costume and theme OC CON Super Hero Run and Dash A costumed one-mile superhero run on the Ocean City Boardwalk during the city's comic book show.
- Costume and theme AmeriHealth April Fools Half Marathon & 8K An April Fools-themed half marathon with costume awards and more than eight miles on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
- Mud and obstacle Tri-State New Jersey Spartan Trifecta Weekend Spartan's spring weekend at Mountain Creek climbs about 1,040 vertical feet up Vernon Peak.
- Iconic tradition The Spring Lake Five Mile Run A Memorial Day weekend shore tradition since 1977 that drew 9,898 finishers in 2026 and sold out in 2.5 hours.
- Novelty course Bungalow Beach Boardwalk Run 5 Miler A five-mile boardwalk race that ends with a sprint across the sand into a beach bar.
- Quirky format D&R Canal Towpath "Train"ing Run Paced "trains" pick up runners at "stations" along up to 34.6 miles of canal towpath, all arriving together for a post-run feast.
- Mud and obstacle Goliathon A volunteer-run Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course where every one of 12 obstacles has three difficulty tiers.
- Food and drink We Want Ice Cream! 5K Run A June 5K at Duke Island Park with ice cream (including dairy-free) waiting at the finish.
- Mud and obstacle Muddy Dash Philadelphia South Jersey fairgrounds mud run marketed to the Philadelphia area.
- Novelty course Princeton Battlefield 5K A RevolutionNJ series 5K across Princeton Battlefield State Park.
- Food and drink 5K for Pizza: Hoboken Every registrant gets two full slices from local pizzerias at a waterfront finish party, with a pizza-costume contest.
- Food and drink Run the Vineyards Saddlehill Winery 5K A cross-country-style 5K through a vineyard and horse farm at Saddlehill Winery.
- Iconic tradition Belmar Five Mile Run A 50-year Jersey Shore institution with 3,000-plus runners on the Belmar oceanfront and a post-race party at Bar Anticipation.
- Novelty course Big Climb New Jersey Climbers race up 504 stairs, about 26 floors, inside a downtown Newark office tower.
- Novelty course Cedar Bridge Tavern 5K (RevolutionNJ Race Series) A 5K past one of New Jersey's oldest surviving taverns, site of one of the Revolution's final skirmishes.
- Novelty course Fort Lee Historic Park 5K (RevolutionNJ Race Series) A Revolutionary War series 5K at Fort Lee Historic Park atop the Palisades.
- Novelty course Monmouth Battlefield 5K (RevolutionNJ Race Series) A 5K across Monmouth Battlefield State Park, site of the 1778 Battle of Monmouth.
- Mud and obstacle Muddy Dash New Jersey Family mud run at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
- Novelty course NJ Turnpike Five A 5K on the New Jersey Turnpike itself, running up the Exit 15X helix toward the tollbooths and back.
- Novelty course Patriotic 5K Beach Run An evening Fourth of July-eve 5K run on the hard sand of the Wildwood Crest beach.
- Novelty course Red Bank Battlefield 5K (RevolutionNJ Race Series) A 5K at Red Bank Battlefield on the Delaware River, the fort Jonas Cattell ran to warn in 1777.
- Food and drink Red, Wine & Blueberry 5K Run A Fourth of July weekend 5K at Renault Winery where finishers 21+ toast with red, white or blueberry champagne.
- Novelty course Run The Hook 5K/10K A 5K/10K inside Sandy Hook (Gateway National Recreation Area), capped at 600 runners by the Park Service.
- Novelty course Run Wild for the Cape May County Zoo The Cape May County Zoo opens its gates early so runners can do a 5K in and around the zoo.
- Holiday and seasonal Shamrock N' Roll 5K Every runner gets a leprechaun suit for a closed 5K that finishes with a live show at the Stone Pony.
- Food and drink The Beer Run 5K + Beer Fest A 21+ 5K through the 1800s Historic Village at Allaire and its trails that finishes inside a craft beer festival.