Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Russ Carmack photo / courtesy of Metro Parks Tacoma

Fall fun runs for Seattle area families

Your guide to Halloween races, turkey trots, and jingle bell runs

Fall fun runs for Seattle area families are a great way to start a weekend morning, and get the family out in the fresh air, exercising, in the rain or on a sunny day. Fun runs — for fitness, for charity or just for kicks — are a great feature of Seattle life in the fall. Many cater to families and have special activities for kids. Costumes are encouraged most of the time, and especially on events near Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Family-friendly fun runs in the Seattle area:

 

Saturday, October 29

West Seattle Monster Dash
Where: Lincoln Park, near south parking lot

Fundraiser for: South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools

Time: 5K run/walk 9:30 a.m.

Cost: $40-$50 ages 17 and older, $25-$30 ages 16 and under, $15-$20 kids dash participants

Join this fall fun run for families. At 10:30 a.m., there’s a 100-yard dash for kids 5 and younger, followed at 10:40 a.m. by a quarter-mile kids’ dash for kids 10 and younger. There’s also a family fun zone with activities.

Strollers allowed? Yes

Sunday, October 30

Run Scared
Where: Seward Park

Fundraiser for: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Time: 8 a.m. registration opens, 8:15 a.m. treasure hunt, 8:45 a.m. kids dash, 9:00 a.m. costume contest, 9:45 a.m. 10K start, 10:00 a.m. 5K and 2 mile walk start, 10:45 a.m. awards.

Cost: 10K $50-$55, 5K and 4K $40-$45.

Before the race, at 8:15 a.m., there is a Halloween treasure hunt, and then a free kids’ dash at 8:45 a.m.

Strollers and dogs allowed? Yes

 

Captain Jack’s Treasure Run
Where: Redmond Municipal Campus

Raises money for: Children’s Country Home

Time: 10 a.m. for 5K, 10:10 a.m. for 8K and 12K

Cost: $60 for 12K, $54 for 8K, $49 for 5K

Kids’ race 9:45 a.m., $10. Pirate costumes encouraged.

Strollers allowed? Yes

Dogs allowed? No

 

Sunday, November 6

Where’s Waldo? 5K
Where: Green Lake Park

Dress up as your favorite Waldo and run around Green Lake.

Time: Starts 10 a.m.

Cost: $20-55, $20 for ages 10 and under.

Strollers and dogs allowed? Yes

Monday, November 14

Hopelink Annual Turkey Trot
Where: Marina Park, Kirkland

Fundraiser for: Hopelink

Time: 8 a.m. packet pickup and registration, 9 a.m.-9:10 a.m. rolling start of 5K

Cost: $40 for 5K.

Kids’ dash: 8:30 a.m., $10. Family Fun fair 8 a.m. until noon.

Strollers allowed? Yes

 

Saturday, November 19

Tacky Turkey Sweater 5K
Where: Green Lake Park

Time: 10:00 a.m. Start

Cost: $35, $30 for kids 14 and under.

Strollers and dogs allowed? Yes

Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 24

Magnuson Turkey Trot 
Where: Magnuson Park

Time: 10 a.m. start for 5K, 10K and 15K.

Cost: $30.68 for the 5K, $35.98 for the 10K, $41.28 for the 15K.

Kids 400 yard dash at 9:45 a.m. Cost $5.22.

Strollers and dogs allowed? Yes

 

Montlake Turkey Trot
Where: Washington Park Arboretum

Fundraiser for: University District Food Bank

5K starts at 9:00 a.m.

Cost: $35-$50 for 5K

Kids’ run (ages 2-12): 10 a.m. Choice of half mile or whole mile course. $20-$35

Strollers allowed? Yes

Issaquah Turkey Trot
Where: Downtown Issaquah

Fundraiser for: Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank

Time: 9 a.m. The course is 5K, but shortcuts are possible

Cost: $30-35 for ages 11 and up, $15 for 10 and younger

Strollers and dogs allowed? Yes

 

Mukilteo Turkey Trot
Where: Kamiak High School

Time: 5K and 10K start at 8 a.m.

Cost: $40-$45 for 5K ($35 for kids), $50-$55 for 10K ($40 for kids)

Strollers allowed? Yes

Dogs allowed? No

Norpoint Classic 

Where: The Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave. N.E., Tacoma

Time: 5K and 2-mile runs both start at 9 a.m. The Northeast Tacoma route has views of Commencement Bay and Mount Rainier

Cost: $30 (includes T-shirt); kids 5 and younger do not need to sign up but must be accompanied by an adult who has registered for the event. There also will be a food drive; details TBD.

Strollers allowed? Yes

Dogs allowed? Yes (on leash)

 

Metro Parks Tacoma 2019 Jingle Bell Run in Wright Park. Photos by Russ Carmack

Sunday, December 4

Chase the Grinch Outa Snohomish Fun Run
Where: Averill Field

Fundraiser for: revitalization efforts in Historic Downtown Snohomish

Time: Check in at 7:30 a.m., kids dash is at 8:15 a.m., 10K and 5K start at 9 a.m.

Cost: $50 for 10K, $40 for 5K, $10 for kids dash.

Strollers allowed? Yes

Saturday, Dec. 10

Christmas Rush Fun Run and Walk

Where: Hogan Park, Kent

Time: 10K start, 9:50 a.m.; 5K start, 10 a.m.

Cost: Day of race registration is $20 starting at 8 a.m. No shirts available, but check out the “garage sale” afterward for a great deal on a previous year’s shirt.

Strollers: Yes (but no dogs).

 

Sunday, December 11

Jingle Bell Run
Where: Green Lake Aqua Theater

Fundraiser for: The Arthritis Foundation

Time: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. First race wave goes at 8 a.m.

Cost: If you register in October, the timed 5K starts at $40, while the untimed 5K starts at $35. The one mile walk starts at $35, the kids run starts at $30, and the virtual jingler begins at $35. Prices go up if you want timing (available on the 5K,) if you want your race packet shipped, or if you wait longer to register.

Strollers allowed in the 5K and the kids’ run.

12 Ks of Christmas
Where: Heritage Park, Kirkland

Fundraiser for: Seattle Humane Society

Time: 12K begins at 9 a.m., 5K begins at 9:25 a.m.

Cost: 12K $55-$60 ($45 students), 5K $45-$50 ($35 students)

Strollers allowed? Yes

 

Saturday, Dec. 17

Jingle Bell Run, Tacoma

What: 3-mile family fun run

Where: Wright Park, Tacoma

Time: 10 a.m.-noon

 

 

Updated October 2022

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Find more things to do at seattleschild.com