Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle
- Date
- December 1–12, 2026
- Distance
- Tinsel Run 10K · Jingle Bell Jog 5K · Santa's Fun Run & more
From the Organizer
Working with community partners, Craven Smart Start provides Craven County children with quality early learning opportunities and health and family support to give them a foundation for success in kindergarten and beyond. Proceeds raised from the Holiday Hustle will expand Craven Smart Start’s ability to provide more services for children, birth to five, and their families in Craven County. The Holiday Hustle will feature the Tinsel 10K and Jingle Bell Jog 5K, which take runners on a course through downtown New Bern starting and ending in Union Point Park. The event also includes the Santa Family Fun Run with a course around Union Point Park. All races will be available as a virtual option including the virtual 48.6 mile 12 Days of Christmas Challenge, we introduced in 2020.
Registration Fees:
- Jingle Bell Jog 5K - $30 until Nov. 28 / $35 Nov 29 until race day
- Tinsel 10K - $35 until Nov. 28 / $40 Nov 29 until race day
- Santa’s Fun Run - $15 / $20 on race day
- Virtual 5k & 10k - $20
- Virtual 48.6 mile 12 Days of Christmas Challenge (this race can be any form of exercise-Running, walking, swimming, biking, elliptical, etc.) - $40
$5 per person family discount for in person races (3 or more participants)
Register by Nov. 6 to guarantee T-shirt.
DUE TO SUPPLY ISSUES, PLEASE BE AWARE IF YOU REGISTER AFTER NOVEMBER 6TH, YOU WILL NOT GET A RACE SHIRT.
Registration Fee is NONREFUNDABLE.
Packet Pick up will be Friday, December 11th from 4-7 at Craven Smart Start, 211-F Neuse Blvd, New Bern or at Union Point Park beginning at 7am the morning of the race.
Awards:
- In-Person Awards for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place, male & female, in age categories 8-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-64 and 65+
- Medals to 1st, 2nd, 3rd place overall in each race male and female
Giveaway:
- All in-person registrants will receive a long sleeve performance t-shirt. Available in YS, YM, YL, AS, AM, AL, AXL, AXXL. Register by Nov. 6th to guarantee t-shirt!
- All Children 15 and under participating in the Family Fun Run will receive a medal.
- Everyone that completes the Virtual 48.6 mile 12 Days of Christmas Challenge will receive a long sleeve performance T-shirt and medal upon completion.
- Participants of the 5k and 10k virtual run will receive a medal upon completion (no shirt).
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
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
62°
Typical Low
39°
Chance of Rain
32%
Based on US Climate Normals data from New Bern Craven Co Ap, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
About New Bern, NC
Population
31,563
as of 2023
Elevation
13 ft
Nearest Airport
EWN
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport · 3 mi
Major Hub
RDU
Raleigh-Durham International Airport · 111 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.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
176
Days to train
- Race
- Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle
- Date
- December 1–12, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near New Bern, NC
Coastal Center for Hope & Healing's Run for Shelter
Less than a mile away
Epiphany Cross Country #1
Less than a mile away
Middle School 3K Cross Country Race @ Fightertown XC (Register on NC Milesplit)
17 miles away
Epiphany Cross Country #2
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle?
- Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle is a running race held in New Bern, North Carolina on December 1, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle?
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026 in New Bern, North Carolina at 210 E. Front Street, New Bern, NC. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle
Dec 1, 2026