Merry Minds Festive Fun Run

Price range: £0.00 through £75.00

Walk, jog, run or dance your way around 2.5k or 5k at our Merry Minds Festive Fun Run. Bring your family, friends and festive spirit for a feel-good morning raising money to support local mental health services across Mid and North East Essex.

Date: Saturday 28 November 2026

Location: Great Notley Country Park, Braintree, CM77 7FS

Distance: Choose from 2.5k or 5k

Run Distance

Ticket type

Clear

SKU: N/A Categories: Event, Fundraising

Additional information

Run Distance	2.5k, 5k
Ticket type	Adult 18+, Child ages 5 – 17, Under 5, Family of 4, Group of 8

Merry Minds Festive Fun Run

Saturday 28 November 2026 | Great Notley Country Park, Braintree

Get ready to jingle all the way for local mental health!

Join us for our Merry Minds Festive Fun Run at Great Notley Country Park and walk, jog, run or even dance your choice of 2.5k or 5k.

Whether you’re a Dasher, a Prancer or prefer to take things at a gentler pace, everyone is welcome. This isn’t about being the fastest over the finish line – it’s about getting outside, having fun together and raising money to support mental health services in our local community.

Festive fancy dress is very much encouraged, so dig out your Santa hats, elf ears and Christmas jumpers. There’ll even be a prize for the best festive outfit!

Every step you take and every pound you raise will help us continue to be there for people across Mid and North East Essex who need support with their mental health.

Event details

Date: Saturday 28 November 2026
Location: Great Notley Country Park, Braintree, CM77 7FS
Distance: Choose from 2.5k or 5k

On the day

10am – Registration opens
10.45am – Festive warm-up
11am – Merry Minds Festive Fun Run begins

You can walk, jog, run or dance your way around the course – take part in whatever way feels right for you.

Entry fees

Adults aged 18+: £10
Children aged 5–17: £5
Under 5s: Free
Family of four: £25
Group of eight: £75

Dasher Discount prices are available for a limited time, so do yours-elf a favour and book your places today!

Fundraise for local mental health

We’re asking everyone taking part to aim to raise £50 in sponsorship.

The money you raise will help support our mental health services here in Mid and North East Essex, helping us to be there for more people when they need us.

Setting up a fundraising page is quick and easy, and our friendly Fundraising Team will be here to support you along the way.

Prefer a good old-fashioned sponsorship form? Download our form here

FAQs

What should I wear?

’Tis the season to be jolly, so festive fancy dress is encouraged!

Come dressed as an elf, pull on your favourite Christmas jumper or create something completely your own. We’ll have a prize for the best festive outfit on the day.

Fancy dress is completely optional, though. We want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome, so please wear whatever works best for you – along with suitable footwear for taking part.

Do I need to train?

There’s no specific training required to take part.

Merry Minds is designed to be accessible and fun, and you can complete your chosen distance at your own pace. Depending on your fitness and the distance you choose, you may want to do a little walking or running beforehand so you feel comfortable on the day.

Can children take part?

Absolutely. There is no minimum age for taking part.

Children under 16 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian and must be accompanied during the event by their parent or legal guardian, or by an adult aged 18 or over who has their permission.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes! Dogs are welcome to join in the festive fun.

They must be kept on a lead at all times during the event.

Are there toilets at the park?

Yes, toilet facilities are available at Great Notley Country Park.

Is parking available?

Yes. Pay and Display parking is available at Great Notley Country Park.

Please remember to pay for your parking when you arrive to avoid receiving a fine.

How much sponsorship do I need to raise and how do I fundraise for the event?

We ask all runners to try and fundraise £50. All fundraising monies raised will support mental health services in your local area. Our friendly fundraising team are on hand to help you with your fundraising effort

You can set up a Justgiving page here, or you can use a good old-fashioned sponsorship form available to download here.

Have a question?

If you have any questions about Merry Minds, or would like some help with your fundraising, our Fundraising Team would love to hear from you.

Call 01206 764600 or email fundraising@mnessexmind.org.

Important information

Please read our Merry Minds Festive Fun Run terms and conditions (PDF) before booking your place.

Places are limited, and entry fees are non-refundable.

Everyone taking part must complete an event registration form before registration closes on the day. You’ll receive the form after purchasing your tickets.

We reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event if circumstances outside our control, including adverse weather conditions, mean that it would not be safe or appropriate for the event to go ahead.