Thousands of runners dressed as zombies, superheroes and everything in between hit the sand and pavement Saturday morning for the sold-out Wicked 10K, Coastal Virginia's largest Halloween race and beach party, drawing 6,900 registered runners from 34 states and four countries to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
The race, put on by Sentara Weekend, has grown into a destination for runners from across the country and is especially well known for its over-the-top costumes, according to WAVY.com. The 10K and 5K races kicked off at 8 a.m. Saturday on 19th Street in front of the Virginia Beach Convention Center, sending costumed participants past trick-or-treat stops, Thriller dancers and a zombie zone along the course.
A Beach Party Built for Halloween
Once runners crossed the finish line, the celebration moved to the sand. A post-race party ran from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. between 22nd Street and 23rd Street, and the station's report notes that costume contest judging and awards were held right there at the beach bash, with winners announced at 10:15 a.m.
The event's Halloween theme and scale echo its recent history. The 2024 edition, branded the Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K Race Weekend, also sold out with more than 5,700 participants from 33 states and three countries, per jandaracing.com. That year's course featured its own candy corn and Tootsie Roll trick-or-treat stop, Thriller dancers, and a 10K zombie zone complete with decorations, fog and brain-eating zombies, according to the same recap. Costume prizes that year went out across individual, couple, group, stroller group and kids categories, and the race raised $5,000 for Spike's K9 Fund.
Road Closures Rerouted Buses for Hours
The growing field came with traffic consequences for anyone relying on public transit near the Oceanfront. Hampton Roads Transit warned that Routes 20, 33 and 960 would detour from the beginning of service until noon or until the race finished, according to Hampton Roads Transit, because of race-related road closures.
The agency also relocated its regular bus lineup at 19th Street and Parks Avenue to Virginia Beach Boulevard and Parks Avenue, in front of the Oceanfront Library, for the duration of the event. Hampton Roads Transit told customers to expect delays due to increased traffic throughout the morning as thousands of racers, spectators and beachgoers converged on the area.
With the race officially logged as the Virginia Beach Wicked 10K and Monster Mile for Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Oceanfront, the day combined a competitive road race with a full-blown Halloween street festival, cementing its reputation as one of the region's signature costume gatherings.
