Candy Cane Dash 5K - Frederick
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Candy Cane Dash 5K & 1K : Frederick
The Candy Cane Dash is an annual holiday running event held at Baker Park in Frederick County, Maryland. The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The event benefits Girls on the Run Mid Maryland, a youth development after school program for girls in grades 3 through 8 that integrates running or movement into its curriculum.
The event offers community-oriented race options and welcomes participants to run, walk, or roll the course. It includes both a 5K and a 1K fun run. The 1K has no virtual option; the 5K includes an in-person and a virtual option. Same-day registration is available on race morning, and there are early packet pick-up opportunities in the days before the event, including a pickup at the Girls on the Run office in Middletown and an additional location to be announced.
Awards are planned for the overall top three male and female finishers and for 10-year age group winners among community runners. The event is family friendly, costumes and holiday gear are encouraged, and participants are asked to leave pets at home due to city regulations. The Candy Cane Dash has taken place on the first Saturday of December for over a decade at Baker Park. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
