Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K
- Date
- December 12–13, 2026
- Location
- 3600 Cabezone Cir., Oxnard, CA
- Distance
- Half Marathon · Quarter Marathon · 5K & more
From the Organizer
Santa to the Sea is a nonprofit event born out of a desire to give back to the community. What started in 2003 as a toy drive to celebrate the relocation of the world’s largest Santa Claus from Carpinteria to Oxnard, has grown into a robust running event, toy drive, and community fundraiser. Santa to the Sea includes a half marathon, a Quarter Marathon plus a 5K run and 1K kids fun run. The Santa to the Sea Scholarship Fund partners with Gene Haas and Oxnard College Foundation to award $500 scholarships to local high school students and adults continuing their education at Oxnard College.
Santa to the Sea offers families not only a weekend of fun, but also an opportunity to give back to those in need, just in time for the holiday season. The nonprofit event helps collect toys for underprivileged children throughout Ventura County while raising scholarship money for students at Oxnard College.
The Half Marathon gets underway at the giant Santa located along the Interstate Highway 101 (2801 Ventura Boulevard) and continues through the strawberry fields of Oxnard before heading to historic downtown Oxnard (where the Quarter Marathon starts) and ending at Marine Emporium Landing (where the 5k and kids 1k start and finish) in picturesque Channel Islands Harbor. There, visitors can enjoy the Finish Line Festival filled with a full day of activities including kids play area, a Santa’s Village, costume contests, food booths and live entertainment.
The Santa to the Sea Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and 5k, is based in the coastal community of Oxnard, CA., and just 40 minutes north of Los Angeles. Combine your athletic pursuits with a seaside weekend getaway during the annual Santa to the Sea Half Marathon, 1/4 marathon, 5K run and 1k kids fun run taking place the second Sunday every December.
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
66°
Typical Low
46°
Based on US Climate Normals data from Oxnard, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Oxnard, CA
Population
201,014
as of 2023
Elevation
17 ft
Nearest Airport
SBA
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport · 43 mi
Major Hub
LAX
Los Angeles International Airport · 46 mi
Time Zone
Pacific 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 Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
187
Days to train
- Race
- Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K
- Date
- December 12–13, 2026
- Location
- 3600 Cabezone Cir., Oxnard, CA
Coming Up
More Running races near Oxnard, CA
We Crawl this Town- 5k and Beer Mile Relay - Camarillo
5K
10 miles away
Bike the Coast Ventura
11 miles away
Riverpark 5K Summer Series
5K
Less than a mile away
2026 Strawberry Fields 5K & 2K
5K
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.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
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 Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K?
- Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K is a running race held in Oxnard, California on December 12, 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 Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K?
- Saturday, December 12, 2026 in Oxnard, California at 3600 Cabezone Cir., Oxnard, CA. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Santa To The Sea 1/2 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon & 5K
Dec 12, 2026