The NOON Year's Eve 5K is a Charlotte 5K that begins with a New Year's Eve countdown at noon rather than midnight. The race starts at 8711 Monroe Road and proceeds through McAlpine Creek Park, welcoming runners and walkers of all paces on a certified cross-country course.
The 5K starts and finishes within the park on a crushed gravel path, winding past the lake and adjacent parkland. A short Kids Dash is also offered, a flat sprint of approximately a quarter mile that begins at the 5K starting line and crosses a gravel path to the finish; parents may accompany their children. Participants receive lunch and drinks after finishing. The event includes a unique timing element, measuring both the full 5K and the year's final mile, with awards for each category, as well as overall and age-group prizes.