Runners head to the finish line Saturday morning at the annual Ugly Sweater 5K run in downtown Medford.

Downtown Medford looked like a scene out of the North Pole on Saturday with a wide array of reds, greens, Christmas costumes, Santa hats and ugly sweaters.

Gathering at the intersection of South Bartlett Street and East Ninth Street, hundreds of attendees stretched and warmed up for Saturday’s 10th annual Medford Ugly Sweater 5K run.

From pink candy-cane outfits to full Santa costumes, many of the racers brought their holiday spirit despite the chilly morning temperature in the mid-30s.

“It was really cold out so I decided to warm my Grinch heart by wearing a Grinch onesie,” said Kelley Dunlop of Medford. “We’re just trying to have some fun.”

Decked out in matching green sweaters and reindeer headbands, Casey Milton and Mike Milton were excited to participate in the run for the first time.

“This will be our first time doing it, so hopefully we can finish,” Casey Milton said. “Either way, it should be a lot of fun.”

It was the first time participating for the Galante family of Eagle Point as well.

“We have a friend who likes to do the run and so now we’re enjoying it with the family and getting to wear silly sweaters and get all dressed up for Christmas, so that’s what brings us out,” Christina Galante said.

“He was looking forward to the donuts and I was looking forward to the hot chocolate,” Christina Galante added, noting 11-year-old Luke Galante’s love for the doughy treats.

Father Jeff Galante was wearing a full costume of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

“I made him come,” Luke Galante said, pointing toward his father.

While cash prizes of $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place were being awarded to the top three male and female runners, many participants planned to do the 5K at their own pace.

“The Grinch doesn’t really like to run, so it’ll probably be a little bit of running and a little bit of walking,” Dunlop said.

The race, organized by West Orthodontics, kicked off at 9 a.m. Saturday and spanned throughout downtown and east Medford, running through Siskiyou Boulevard and the Bear Creek Greenway.

This year marked a decade of putting on the Medford Ugly Sweater 5K, and proceeds from the race go toward the Jackson County Foster Parent Association.

“The Jackson County Foster Parent Association is our chosen charity, and that decision was made a long time ago by (West Orthodontics owner) Dr. Lance West,” said Becca Correa, primary event coordinator for the race. “He really enjoys supporting the Jackson County Foster Parent Association.”

The foster care organization supports, empowers and advocates for foster kids and parents in Jackson County to improve the quality of life for children involved in the foster care system.

“Everything raised from the Ugly Sweater 5K will support Christmas gifts, school supplies and more for foster kids in the community,” Correa said. “This is one of the bigger events we do for the foster care association.”

The support for foster kids in the community extends to participation in the 5K as well.

“We have a boy who was a Crater High School cross country runner, and he comes back every year to support (the race) because he was a foster child,” Correa said. “We have many people who come back every year.”

West Orthodontics also raises money for the Jackson County Foster Parent Association through Girt Scout cookie sales and other methods.

To learn more about the Jackson County Foster Parent Association, visit jcfpa.org.