L.A. Cancer Challenge 5K Walk/Run at UCLA

Southern California's longest-running Halloween-themed 5K takes over the UCLA campus on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The 29th Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge raises money for the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and it does it in costume, with thousands of runners and walkers heading out from Wilson Plaza. If you're hunting for things to do with kids LA this fall, a race where nobody minds a pumpkin suit or a witch hat is a good place to start.

When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM Where: UCLA Wilson Plaza, 120 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles Registration: $30 for youth, $60 for adults, at lacancerchallenge.com

What to expect

This is a charity walk/run first and a race second. Some people go for a personal best. Plenty more stroll the route with friends, strollers and dogs in tow, and the course welcomes both. The money goes toward pancreatic cancer research, including early detection work that could lead to breakthroughs.

Around the start and finish area, the event adds a lot for people who aren't racing. The Fit Family Expo is free to enter. There's a Candy Land Kids Zone, live entertainment, a costume contest and a Finish Line Donut Wall waiting for everyone who crosses the line. For families looking at family events Los Angeles has on the calendar before Halloween, the mix of exercise and sugar is hard to beat.

Who it suits

• Families who want a Halloween outing with a purpose
• Walkers and casual runners who prefer a festive crowd to a competitive one
• Co-workers, school groups and friend crews looking for a team day out
• Anyone with a personal connection to pancreatic cancer who wants to show up

Planning your morning

Registration is open through race day at lacancerchallenge.com, with youth and adult pricing. The start is early, so plan to arrive well before 7:30 AM to park, pick up your bib and find your group. Campus parking and street closures around Westwood fill up quickly on event mornings, so check the official site for current parking and shuttle details, and consider rideshare or a drop-off.

Dress for the weather and for the theme. A costume that is comfortable at a jog beats an elaborate one that isn't. Bring water, sunscreen, and a change of shoes if you plan to hang around the expo afterward.

The event runs through the morning, so you can race, browse the expo and let the kids loose in the Candy Land zone before heading home for lunch. For more outings like this one, browse our family events or the neighborhood guides. Looking for LA events this weekend beyond the race? Check back through the week for additions.

Details come from the listing on Discover Los Angeles, and the organizers can confirm final timing, parking and registration cutoffs.