New Year’s Day 5k Hot Chocolate Run 2026

  • Date Thu 1st January 2026
  • Time 1:00PM EST
  • Location Salisbury, Maryland
  • Price Free - $38.10
  • Races 2 races
  • Distances 5km, 1 Mile

Event summary

Get ready to kick off the New Year with a bang at the Almost-Famous New Year’s Day 5K Hot Chocolate Run on Thursday, January 1, 2026, in beautiful Salisbury, Wicomico! This exciting community event promises a delightful combination of fitness and fun, as participants race along the scenic trails surrounding Salisbury City Park and the Zoo. With a course that features mostly crushed gravel paths, runners can expect a flat and fast route, perfect for chasing personal records or simply enjoying a leisurely jog with family and friends.

No matter what the weather brings—whether it’s a chilly breeze or a sunny start to the year—everyone will leave with a unique chocolate-scented shirt to commemorate their post-holiday hustle. Plus, enjoy delicious Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate at the finish line along with water and snacks at the aid station. This event not only promotes health and wellness but also raises funds for the Minds in Motion Children's Museum, aimed at inspiring creativity and hands-on discovery for children. Join us for a fantastic start to 2026 filled with joy, community spirit, and of course, hot chocolate!

Organiser's Description

Its Back in 2026!

2018 was bitterly cold.
2019 was warm and inviting.
2020 was a bit windy.
2021 went virtual.
2022 came with a torrential downpour.
2023 brought a little chill.
2024 leaned warmer again.
2025 was beautiful...

What will 2026 bring?

Whatever the weather, you're guaranteed one thing: a chocolate-scented shirt to commemorate your post-holiday hustle!

Join us for the Almost-Famous New Year's Day Hot Chocolate 5K Runa feel-good, community-powered event that benefits the Minds in Motion Children's Museum. Start the year with fun, fitness, and purpose as we raise funds to bring an innovative, play-based learning space to Salisbury, Maryland.

About the Cause:
Minds in Motion Childrens Museum was founded by local families and educators to inspire children through exploration, creativity, and hands-on discovery. While the pandemic slowed us down, our board has been hard at work behind the scenes. Thanks to our generous supporters, were launching the museum in phasesmore exciting updates will be shared at the race!

Race Details:
Location: Trails surrounding Salisbury City Park and the Zoo, near the river
Course: Mostly crushed gravel trailsflat, scenic, and fast! Some roots and rocks may be present, so plan accordingly.
Aid Station: Water and snacks around mile 1.5
Finish Line: Water and Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate with all the fixings
Swag: Chocolate-scented T-shirt includedguaranteed for those registered by December 1
Awards: Overall and age group winners receive HUGE mugs!

Bring the whole family out to run, cheer, or sip cocoa! Whether you're chasing a PR or just your kids, this is a great way to ring in 2026.

Questions?
Contact Race Director Vira Ogburn at [email protected]

Races

  • New Years Day 5k Hot Chocolate Run

    Incl. $3.10 Fee & T-Shirt

    Thu 1st January 2026 (1:00PM EST)

    $38.10

    CLOSED
    SO excited to see all of those fit families with 2026 goals in mind! Here is your 2026 packet pick up information: Greetings 2026 Runners, We will have The New Years Day Hot Chocolate 5k Run packet pickup on Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 at Dunkin Donuts located at: 298 Tilghman Road Salisbury, MD 21804 (next to McDonald's) from 9:00 am until 11 am. You can also pick up your packet on race day starting at 11:00 am on race day. Race T-shirts: **You will only receive a fresh smelling hot chocolate t-shirt if you registered for the Hot Chocolate 5k. We ordered a maximum number of shirt sizes so that once you registered, it would automatically subtract from our total. IF you would like to order additional shirts, it is while supplies last. We will also have last year's shirts for sale at packet pick up (December 31st). Parking: Park anywhere near the park or across the street. Race Day: Rain, shine or snow, the race will start promptly at 1 pm beginning and ending at the white bridge in The Salisbury Park. If you didn't pick up your bib on New Year's Eve at DD, you can start arriving any time after 11 am. There will also be same day registration. We will have portable potties, complimentary of A.S.A.P Service Corp. There will be fresh hot cocoa, complimentary of Dunkin Donuts. There will also be an amazing hot cocoa bar and snacks at the finish line! Aid Station: During the race, there will be one aid station at 1.5 miles. Medals/Chip-Timing: Medals will be given to the top 3 runners both male/female of each of our age groups. The overall top 3 runners will win mugs thank you to Amused Studios. We will continue having random raffle drawings complimentary of several local businesses that we will shout out on our Instagram page (follow us on mindsinmotionsby). We will also shout out to the rest of our amazing sponsors via email as well as Instagram. Special thanks to TCR Event Management. They will be doing our chip-timing and making sure our event runs smoothly. You should have results as soon as you cross the finish line. 1 miler: 1 milers will start at 1:05, after the 5k and will NOT be chip timed. Small Disclaimer: We apologize for the inconvenience of not being able to access Facebook in this season. Our account was hacked so by default we can't access our business page nor our Hot Chocolate 5k running group page- we still do have access to Instagram and our posts make it to our Facebook through that. Hopefully we will get this resolved as it has been some time since we have had access! You could also join our https://www.facebook.com/groups/1459186047542321 Continue to look for race emails and tell your running friends to check their spam/junk mail. If you have registered, you will get an email from me, I promise! Most importantly, I hope you have the most amazing holiday season! I am so excited to see you all on New Year's Day! Thank you all for your support!! Merry Christmas, Vira Ogburn [email protected]
  • 1 Mile Fun Run

    Thu 1st January 2026 (1:05PM EST)

    Free

    CLOSED
    Free but you must register! :)

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Location

521 South Park Drive, Salisbury, 21804, MD, United States

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