63rd Annual Asbury Park Polar Bear Races
- Date Sun 27th December 2026
- Time 9:30AM EST
- Location Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Price $16.90 - $38.10
- Races 3 races
- Distances 5km, 1 Mile
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Event summary
Get ready to embrace the chill and join the fun at the 63rd Annual Asbury Park Polar Bear Races on Sunday, December 27, 2026, in the vibrant beachfront city of Asbury Park, Monmouth! This exciting event features a scenic 5K run and a 1-mile fun run, perfect for participants of all ages and abilities. Early registration is now open, offering an unbeatable price of just $35 for the 5K and $15 for the 1-mile race until May 23. Don’t miss your chance to compete for fantastic prizes, including cash awards for the overall winners and special gifts for youth participants.
The race day festivities kick off bright and early, with bib and t-shirt pick-up starting at 7:45 AM. Runners will hit the course at 9:30 AM for the 1-mile run, followed by the 5K at 10:00 AM. The 5K course leads participants through the beautiful scenery of Bradley Beach before turning back to finish at Convention Hall, ensuring a memorable experience for all. Plus, you'll be supporting a great cause, as proceeds will benefit Interfaith Neighbors, a charity dedicated to promoting food security and equity in the community.
The race day festivities kick off bright and early, with bib and t-shirt pick-up starting at 7:45 AM. Runners will hit the course at 9:30 AM for the 1-mile run, followed by the 5K at 10:00 AM. The 5K course leads participants through the beautiful scenery of Bradley Beach before turning back to finish at Convention Hall, ensuring a memorable experience for all. Plus, you'll be supporting a great cause, as proceeds will benefit Interfaith Neighbors, a charity dedicated to promoting food security and equity in the community.
Organiser's Description
_* 63RD ANNUAL *_
_ASBURY PARK POLAR BEAR RACES_
_
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2026_
REGISTRATION - NOW OPEN
$35 EARLY REGISTRATION (5K) & $15 (1 MILE) UNTIL MAY 23
$40 REGULAR REGISTRATION (5K) & $20 (1 MILE) UNTIL DECEMBER 26
$45 RACE DAY REGISTRATION (5K) & $25 (1 MILE)
SATURDAY BIB PICK UP - 11 AM TO 2 PM
THE OUTPOST RUNNING & WALKING CO.
32 CHURCH ST. LITTLE SILVER, NJ 07739 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/1xXCi4xR3bfPnMDB9]
FREE RAFFLE OF FUN ITEMS FOR ALL THOSE WHO PICK UP BIBS AND SHIRTS ON SATURDAY.
** - FOR THOSE WHO STILL NEED TO PICK UP BIBS AND SHIRTS, YOU CAN DO SO AT CONVENTION HALL IN ASBURY PARK ON SATURDAY MORNING, STARTING AT 7:45 AM.
EVENT DAY INFORMATION
7:45 AM TO 9:25 AM - T-SHIRT + BIB PICK UP
9:30 AM - 1 MILE RUN
10:00 AM - 5K RUN & 5K WALK
RACE COURSE [https://www.shoreac.org/polar-bear-races.html#/]
THE 5K COURSE WILL NOW GO OUT ONCE 1.55 MILES AND TURN AROUND IN BRADLEY BEACH TO THEN HEAD BACK TO CONVENTION HALL TO FINISH IN ASBURY PARK. WE WILL USE THE SAME COURSE AS WAS USED IN 2024. THE COURSE IS NARROW AS YOU LEAVE ASBURY PARK AND FOR A SECTION ON THE BRADLEY BEACH BOARDWALK, SO WE ASK EVERYONE TO STAY ALERT AND STAY TO YOUR RIGHT GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON THE COURSE.
CHARITY PARTNER
INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS [https://interfaithneighbors.org/communityfoodconnectcion/]
INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS [IFN], LOCATED IN ASBURY PARK, HAS BEEN ASSISTING NEIGHBORS IN NEED AND BUILDING HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES SINCE 1988. THE COMMUNITY FOOD CONNECTION PROGRAM OF IFN HAS CREATED A COMMUNITY-LED COALITION THAT AIMS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO INEQUITIES IN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE TO OVER 35 PANTRIES AND COMMUNITY SITES EVERY WEEK THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON, PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH FOOD SECURITY AND PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL, NJ FARMS. LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND SPONSOR A FAMILYS PRODUCE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK [https://interfaithneighbors.org/community-food-connection/sponsor-a-family/].
AWARDS
COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRTS FOR THE FIRST 500 PEOPLE TO PICK UP THEIR BIB.
$100 CASH AND FREE RACE ENTRY TO THE OVERALL MALE AND FEMALE WINNERS OF THE 5K. GIFT CERTIFICATES ($50 VALUE) WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE 2ND AND 3RD OPEN MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL AS TO THE TOP MALE AND FEMALE MASTERS FINISHERS IN THE 5K.
AGE-GROUP AWARDS, GROUPED BY 5-YEAR INCREMENTS, WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED AFTER 11:00 AM IN CONVENTION HALL.
SPECIAL GIFT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN THE MILE, AND THE TOP BOYS AND GIRLS FINISHERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A SPECIAL AWARD.
_The awards ceremony will take place back in Convention Hall as soon as the results are available (approximately 11-11:15 AM)
_
_ASBURY PARK POLAR BEAR RACES_
_
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2026_
REGISTRATION - NOW OPEN
$35 EARLY REGISTRATION (5K) & $15 (1 MILE) UNTIL MAY 23
$40 REGULAR REGISTRATION (5K) & $20 (1 MILE) UNTIL DECEMBER 26
$45 RACE DAY REGISTRATION (5K) & $25 (1 MILE)
SATURDAY BIB PICK UP - 11 AM TO 2 PM
THE OUTPOST RUNNING & WALKING CO.
32 CHURCH ST. LITTLE SILVER, NJ 07739 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/1xXCi4xR3bfPnMDB9]
FREE RAFFLE OF FUN ITEMS FOR ALL THOSE WHO PICK UP BIBS AND SHIRTS ON SATURDAY.
** - FOR THOSE WHO STILL NEED TO PICK UP BIBS AND SHIRTS, YOU CAN DO SO AT CONVENTION HALL IN ASBURY PARK ON SATURDAY MORNING, STARTING AT 7:45 AM.
EVENT DAY INFORMATION
7:45 AM TO 9:25 AM - T-SHIRT + BIB PICK UP
9:30 AM - 1 MILE RUN
10:00 AM - 5K RUN & 5K WALK
RACE COURSE [https://www.shoreac.org/polar-bear-races.html#/]
THE 5K COURSE WILL NOW GO OUT ONCE 1.55 MILES AND TURN AROUND IN BRADLEY BEACH TO THEN HEAD BACK TO CONVENTION HALL TO FINISH IN ASBURY PARK. WE WILL USE THE SAME COURSE AS WAS USED IN 2024. THE COURSE IS NARROW AS YOU LEAVE ASBURY PARK AND FOR A SECTION ON THE BRADLEY BEACH BOARDWALK, SO WE ASK EVERYONE TO STAY ALERT AND STAY TO YOUR RIGHT GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON THE COURSE.
CHARITY PARTNER
INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS [https://interfaithneighbors.org/communityfoodconnectcion/]
INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS [IFN], LOCATED IN ASBURY PARK, HAS BEEN ASSISTING NEIGHBORS IN NEED AND BUILDING HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES SINCE 1988. THE COMMUNITY FOOD CONNECTION PROGRAM OF IFN HAS CREATED A COMMUNITY-LED COALITION THAT AIMS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO INEQUITIES IN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE TO OVER 35 PANTRIES AND COMMUNITY SITES EVERY WEEK THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON, PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH FOOD SECURITY AND PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL, NJ FARMS. LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND SPONSOR A FAMILYS PRODUCE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK [https://interfaithneighbors.org/community-food-connection/sponsor-a-family/].
AWARDS
COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRTS FOR THE FIRST 500 PEOPLE TO PICK UP THEIR BIB.
$100 CASH AND FREE RACE ENTRY TO THE OVERALL MALE AND FEMALE WINNERS OF THE 5K. GIFT CERTIFICATES ($50 VALUE) WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE 2ND AND 3RD OPEN MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL AS TO THE TOP MALE AND FEMALE MASTERS FINISHERS IN THE 5K.
AGE-GROUP AWARDS, GROUPED BY 5-YEAR INCREMENTS, WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED AFTER 11:00 AM IN CONVENTION HALL.
SPECIAL GIFT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN THE MILE, AND THE TOP BOYS AND GIRLS FINISHERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A SPECIAL AWARD.
_The awards ceremony will take place back in Convention Hall as soon as the results are available (approximately 11-11:15 AM)
_
Races
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Asbury Park Convention Center, 1300 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, 07712, NJ, United States
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63rd Annual Asbury Park Polar Bear Races
