5K races near Lugoff

Costumes are part of the start-line routine at Nightmare In Elmwood 5k, a Halloween 5K and fun run in Columbia, South Carolina. The race is run around Halloween in the historic Elmwood Park area, with a 5 km option and a shorter kids fun run of about 1.6 km. It is still a young neighborhood event, but it has already drawn more than 520 participants. The course starts near 2204 Park Street and runs through Elmwood Park, close to downtown Columbia. Families, kids, runners in costume, and even dogs are part of the crowd. The neighborhood adds Halloween decorations, the event includes a costume contest, and volunteers get “skeleton crew” shirts while helping with race-day jobs.

The Mt. Moriah 5K is a USATF-certified road race held in Camden, South Carolina, during early November. It begins and ends at the Mt. Moriah Outreach building, located at 813 Broad Street. This yearly community 5K is also included in the Columbia Running Club’s Tour de Columbia series. The course starts and finishes at the outreach building. Parking is available nearby on Broad Street, York Street, the rear lot of Mt. Moriah Baptist, and a vacant lot. Net proceeds support Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for Camden and nearby communities; over 3,500 meals have been provided since the program's inception. The race proceeds regardless of weather and does not issue refunds.

The Ugly Sweater 5K is an annual holiday-season run/walk supporting the Manheim Township Cross Country Booster Club. Participants can choose between a 5K Run/Walk or a 1 Mile Fun Run for a shorter option. The event embraces the holiday theme with participants encouraged to wear ugly sweaters. Holiday music, hot chocolate, soup, and cookies will be available. Proceeds benefit Manheim Township cross country athletes and coaches, with support from local sponsors.

Cupid's Chase 5K Columbia begins at 10 a.m. in Maxcy Gregg Park, offering a later start for a local 5K. This race is part of Community Options' national Cupid's Chase series, which holds similar events across the country to fund programs and housing for individuals with disabilities. The Columbia event is accessible to runners, walkers, wheelchair users, and those with strollers. It welcomes participants, sponsors, and fundraisers, designed as a community event rather than solely a competition for elite runners. The course is a certified, chip-timed 5K, an out-and-back route through Shandon that is generally fast. Results will be posted shortly after the race concludes. This event has been held for over ten years. All finishers receive a medal and a Cupid's Chase drawstring bag, subject to availability. Awards extend beyond the top overall finishers; the top three male and female runners get trophies, and winners in each age group receive medals. Leashed pets are permitted, and the event is also known for its notable door prizes and awards.