
Annual Running of the Lights, Teddy Bear Trot & Jolly Jog is a running race on December 8, 2026 in Mishawaka, IN.
Join us December 8, 2026 for a running tour of Winding Brook Park's brilliant display of holiday lights. Winding Brook Park's residents create beautiful light displays each year and take donations for area charities. Fleet Feet Mishawaka is looking to donate a total of $2000 this year. Fleet Feet will start the donations off with $1000 leaving the remaining $1000 up to our amazing running community. We are suggesting a minimum $5 donation per runner to help get us there.
Teddy Bear Trot: In addition to your cash donations, we encourage everyone to bring a stuffed teddy bear, which will be provided to a local Non-profit to give kids an extra hug this holiday season.
Jolly Jog: For an additional fee, purchase a Santa Suit to run through the holiday light display!
Notice: If you registered before the Santa Suits were available Order your Santa Suit here! There are only 50 available.
If you are registering for the first time this year, you will get the opportunity to add on a Santa Suit purchase at checkout.
Things all participants should consider:
- Register in advance and submit your donation online.
- We will be parking and having check-in at the Walt Disney Elementary School 4015 Filbert Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
- Participants are required to check in upon arrival. Participants will receive a safety light that they will be required to wear for the duration of the event at check-in for safety and visibility out on the route.
- All participants are expected to follow the traffic signs in order to tour all the houses on display. The traffic signs will have some sort of flashing light hanging on them to make them more noticeable.
- The run will end where it started to allow participants to cross safely at the traffic light back to their vehicles.
- Volunteers will be on the route to help guide you.
- The lights are pretty bright, but be sure to bring a light source like a headlamp or knuckle lights to see any potholes or other dips in the road.
- Christmas Light necklaces and other festive wear are 100% encouraged! We get some great pictures with everyone all lit up.
- Strollers are welcome as long as kiddos stay in them.
- We chose a time that isn't as popular with cars, but they are still present. The vehicle traffic is one-way only if they follow the route. We will be running with traffic most of the time, but may also find ourselves running against traffic in some areas.
- Leave the dogs at home; it's too dark and chaotic for our furry friends.
- If you are not feeling well, please stay home! This protects the rest of the participants and our awesome volunteers.
Route Links (coming soon):
3.9 Mile (Full Route)
3.4 Mile (Short Route)
1.4 Mile (Super Short Route)
Santa Suit Pickup
Santa suit pickup is the moment the Jolly Jog countdown gets real. If you purchased a Santa Suit, you can pick it up at the event when you check in at the Fleet Feet Mishawaka tents.
Pickup Schedule & Location
Date: Tuesday, Dec 8th
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30PM
Location: Walt Disney Elementary School, 4015 Filbert Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
39°
Typical Low
26°
Based on US Climate Normals data from S Bend, 4 mi from the venue.
Population
50,907
as of 2023
City Elevation
711 ft
Nearest Airport
SBN
South Bend International Airport · 8 mi
Major Hub
MDW
Chicago Midway International Airport · 82 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Annual Running of the Lights, Teddy Bear Trot & Jolly Jog, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
24
Days to train
Plan your training, log every workout, and track your progress all the way to race day in the Endurance Grid app.


Annual Running of the Lights, Teddy Bear Trot & Jolly Jog
Dec 8, 2026