Rock'in Santa Half Marathon & Sunshine Santa 5K

Get into the holiday spirit with either a half marathon or 5K run Saturday, December 12th, 2026 from Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville, TN. Events benefit the Sunshine Ambassadors -  Enriching the lives of people with disabilities through dance! Christmas Rock-n-Roll music will abound from Victor Ashe Park and along the routes.

The Half Marathon and Relay will start at 9am.  The 5k will start at 9:15am.

Participants of the half marathon, relay & 5K will receive custom ROCK'IN SANTA long sleeve T-shirts. Shirt sizes not guaranteed after December 5th.   Half marathon & 5K finishers will also receive a finishers medal.

We have activated RaceJoy mobile app for this year's events.  Once we get closer to the events, we will send out instructions on how to download the app and get set up for race day.  If you want to familiarize yourself or download now, there are instructions at the bottom of this page in the RaceJoy section.  You can share this with family and friends so that they can monitor your progress throughout the race.  They will be able to get notifications just like you will.  Stay tuned for information on RaceJoy. 

Route Links

5K Route -  The 5k will start at the Pavilion and continue onto the Greenway to the back of the school and loop right back to the Start/Finish line.

Half Marathon Route : Please note that Greenway course will be 3 loops with a 4 hour time limit. Christmas music at aid stations passed 9 times over route (weather permitting). Note: walkers welcome but Police traffic control will end at 1 PM. 

Half Marathon Relay Route : The Greenway course will be 3 loops with a 4 hour time limit. Each relay member will complete 1 loop each transitioning the next runner at the designated area.  Each Loop is 4.37 miles.  The final runner will complete through the finish line.  Christmas music at aid stations passed 9 times over route (weather permitting). 

Packet pickup:

Friday, Dec. 11th from 4 PM to 6 PM @ Victor Ashe Park race site. Continues at race site Saturday, Dec. 12th from 7 AM to 8:45 AM  Runners can pickup for friends.

Both Half Marathon & 5K  - Age Groups and Awards: Overall awards for the top three male and female finishers & top male and female masters. Age group awards for first, second, and third place in the following M & F age groups: 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45- 49, 50-55, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70.  You must be present at the awards ceremony.  We will not ship awards not picked up.

Events will be electronically chip timed: Start & Finish - with Live Results to participants via text / e-mail. Tentative Awards: 5K = 10:15 AM - Half Marathon = 12:30 PM 

Events benefit Knoxville's Sunshine Ambassadors. Please consider coming out to help this great cause, enjoy & give thanks for the holiday season and bring friends for a memorable run!

Headphones - Any headphone devices are discouraged due to the safety hazard(s) to other runners & runners themselves. 

Directions from downtown Knoxville: Take Western Avenue headed west; after approximately four miles, turn right onto Pleasant Ridge Road; go approximately three miles (before Northwest Middle School) and turn left onto Bradshaw Road; park is on immediate right. 

Directions from I-40: From I-40, take the I-640 exit #385; take the Western Ave. West; head west on Western Ave; turn right onto Ballcamp Pk. at the Wendy's; turn right onto Bradshaw Rd; park will be on the left. 

Directions from I-75: From I-75, take the Merchant Drive exit #108; head west on Merchant Dr; go to Merchant Dr. end; turn left onto Pleasant Ridge Rd; turn right onto Bradshaw Rd; park will be on the immediate right.

Bald Eagle Events has a NO REFUND policy. Insurance is available during the registration of each event. Please take advantage of this option should you wish to insure your entry fees.  

Race entries are non-transferable between individuals.

Event Cancellation / Modification Policy

If Natural Disaster or Community Disaster occurs, our action steps are as follows:

1. Bald Eagle Events in concert with local officials will make decisions based on safety first.

2. Courses and/or race segments will be altered as agreed to between Bald Eagle Events and local officials

3. Financial: It is not financially feasible for Bald Eagle Events to accept the risk of a disaster for everyone. Each registered participant needs to accept the risk of his or her entry fee. There will be NO REFUNDS or free entries to future races. The money you paid is spent developing the subject event.

4. Bald Eagle Events does not save any money if one of our events has to be canceled for reasons beyond our control. All supplies and services needed for the events are purchased and/or arranged in advance. All event supplies and services associated with that event must be paid for, regardless of the outcome.