Mental Elf Festive Fun Run is back for 2026!

Saturday 28 November 2026

Worden Park, Leyland

Save the date and get ready to get your elf on!

Lancashire Mind’s annual flagship fundraising event is back, and this year we want more people than ever to join us!

Pull on your festive fancy dress, lace up your trainers and join hundreds of elves at Worden Park for a brilliant day of festive fun, community spirit and fundraising for better mental health across Lancashire.

Whether you’re a seasoned runner, prefer a stroll around the park, want to bring the whole family along or fancy challenging yourself to go that little bit further, Mental Elf is for everyone.

Choose your Mental Elf challenge

With three different options to choose from, there really is something for everyone.

Mini Elf 2k

Perfect for little legs, families and anyone who fancies a shorter route around the park.

Run it, walk it or take it at your own pace. It’s all about getting involved and having some festive fun together.

Mental Elf 5k

Our classic Mental Elf route! Run it, jog it, walk it or do a bit of everything. There’s no pressure and no need to be a runner. Just come along, get moving and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Challenge YoursElf

Fancy going that little bit further?

Our open ended Challenge YoursElf option gives you the opportunity to see just how far you can go. Complete the route at your own pace and challenge yourself to keep going, with the course remaining open for up to two hours.

Event day timings

Here’s what you can expect on the day:

9.30am | Registration opens

Arrive, get checked in and get ready for the day ahead.

10.30am | Mental Elf 5k starts

Our classic Mental Elf 5k gets underway!

10.35am | Challenge YoursElf starts

Time to see how far you can go, with up to two hours to complete your challenge.

12pm | Best Dressed Dog Parade

Christmas jumpers, elf costumes, tinsel and festive four legged friends are very much encouraged! Bring your pooch along in their finest festive outfit and join the parade.

12.30pm | Mini Elf 2k starts

Our Mini Elves take to the course for the final event of the day.

More than just a run

Mental Elf isn’t just about crossing the finish line. It’s a whole morning of festive fun!

We’ll have plenty happening around the event village, with indoor activities, entertainment and stalls to enjoy throughout the day.

So bring your friends and family along too. They can enjoy everything that’s happening while you’re out on the route, before giving you the big finish line cheer you deserve!

Why take part in Mental Elf?

Mental Elf is all about bringing our local community together to do something that feels good, while doing good too.

By taking part you’ll be getting active, spending time outdoors, connecting with other people and helping to raise vital funds for Lancashire Mind.

Every ticket, donation and pound raised helps us continue supporting people across Lancashire with their mental health and wellbeing.

And the best bit? You can do it entirely your way.

Run it. Walk it. Challenge yourself. Bring the family. Dress as an elf. Just come and be part of it.

Can we beat £21,000?

In 2025, our incredible Mental Elf community raised a whopping £21,000 for Lancashire Mind.

This year, we want to go even bigger!

By fundraising alongside your Mental Elf challenge, you’ll be helping us raise even more money to support better mental health across Lancashire.

Every pound makes a difference, and when hundreds of elves come together, those pounds can add up to something pretty amazing.

Ready to get your elf on?

Join us at Worden Park on Saturday 28 November 2026 and help us make this our biggest Mental Elf yet.

Book your place today and we’ll see you at the start line!

Sponsorship opportunities

Want to get your business involved in Mental Elf 2026?

We have a range of sponsorship and partnership opportunities available for organisations that want to support Lancashire Mind, reach our brilliant Mental Elf community and help make this year’s event possible.

Get in touch with the Lancashire Mind fundraising team to find out more.