Fancy a festive 5k? Lace up your trainers — plenty of parkruns across the region are gearing up for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fun.
A host of events have already confirmed they’ll be welcoming runners on December 25, 2025, January 1, 2026, or both.
Check below to see whether your local parkrun is joining the celebrations.
Parkruns hosting both Christmas and New Year’s Day events:
Many of the region’s busiest parkruns will run on both dates:
- Albert Park, Middlesbrough
- Blyth Links
- Dalby Forest
- Darlington South Park
- Druridge Bay
- Durham
- Herrington Country Park
- Millfield, Easingwold
- Prudhoe Riverside
- Redcar
- Sedgefield
- The Cinder Track, Whitby
- Woodlands, Scarborough
Christmas Day parkruns:
Those expected to open their start lines on Christmas morning only are:
- Ashington Community Woodland
- Gateshead
- Hackworth, Shildon
- Hartlepool
- Jesmond Dene, Newcastle
- Northallerton parkrun
- The Pastures, Alnwick
New Year’s Day parkruns:
Events opting to run on New Year’s Day only include:
- Blackhill, Consett
- Denton Dene
- Fountains Abbey, Ripon
- Heritage Coastal Path, Easington
- Jubilee, Spennymoor
- Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
- Riverside, Chester-le-Street
- Stewart Park, Middlesbrough
- Tyne Green, Hexham
- Wynyard Woodland
Recommended Reading
- New Parkrun launches in Sunderland with more than 100 runners taking part
- Pictures as hardy swimmers brave icy North Sea to take 2025 New Year's Day dip
- New Parkrun rumoured to be coming to County Durham as call for volunteers is made
Events not hosting either festive run:
Some events have confirmed no festive parkruns this year:
- Albert Park junior
- Carlisle Park, Morpeth
- Cotsford Fields
- Durham City junior
- Flatts Lane
- Fulwell Quarry
- Hamsterley Forest
- Hetton Lyons Country Park junior
- Marshall Drive, Brotton
- North Yorkshire Water Park, Scarborough
- Sedgefield junior
- Thorp Perrow, near Bedale
- Town Moor and Town Moor junior
- Ushaw Historic House
- Victoria Jubilee junior
Events yet to announce:
Several events have not yet decided on their plans for Christmas or the New Year:
- Windy Nook
- Whitley Bay and Whitley Bay junior
- Tyne Green junior
- The Grange
- The Demesnes
- South Shields
- South Park junior
- Silkworth
- Saltwell junior
- Rossmere junior
- Riverside junior
- Rising Sun
- Redcar junior
- Prudhoe Riverside junior
- North Marine junior
- Mowbray Park junior
- Leazes
- Kirkharle Courtyard
- Hemlington Lake junior
- Elemore Park
- Chopwell Wood
- Billingham junior
This list is subject to changes and will be updated throughout the coming weeks as weather forecasts are confirmed and volunteer teams finalise rosters or make announcements.
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