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
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
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
What: 3-mile family fun run
Where: Wright Park, Tacoma
Time: 10 a.m.-noon
Updated October 2022
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