West Suburban Photography Group

🛒CHIditarod XXI: Chaos, Carts, Costumes, Charity & a Chicago-Style Party!🛒🍺🎶

CHIditarod 2026: 21st Anniversary Race, Food Drive, Pub Crawl & Live Music!

Are you ready for a crazy Saturday in March? If you’ve never been to this event, you’re in for a wild treat! Rain, shine, or snowstorm — nothing stops the CHIditarod! 🌧️☀️❄️

The CHIditarod is an annual race through West Town, Wicker Park, and Ukrainian Village — part food drive, part pub crawl, part costumed shopping cart race, all parts radtacular! Think street theater, charity, fashion, engineering, snacks… and bacon 🥓🎭🛒. This year is the 21st anniversary! 🎉

We’ve gone for years, and way back in 2016, A TEAM FROM CS&B group raced as the “Chicago Flashers” with a Canon Camera cart 📷🤣. Fun times, memories, and chaos — all part of the CHIditarod experience.

🙌 It’s a multi-meetup event so expect a lively group! I will have my other meetup groups there (they will arrive later) so I will be doing a combo of photography, social event & street crawl, where we follow the racing teams. See below about becoming an official volunteer photographer for the CHIditarod!

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📅 Saturday, March 7, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Start: Cobra Lounge, 235 N Ashland
📍 Finish: Five Star Bar, 1424 W. Chicago

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⏰ Tentative Schedule
• 10:00 AM – Meet, check out racers & costumes, take pics 📸
• 12:30 PM – Race begins 🏁
• 12:30-3 PM - Follow racers to 5 bar checkpoints (30 min each) 🍺
• Post-race – Optional ~2-mile walk through West Town, Union Park & Ukrainian Village 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🎉 pub crawl portion - hit the checkpoints, get food, drinks & take lots of pictures

🍽️ What to Bring
• Non-perishable food items for the food drive (1–2 cans perfect) 🥫
• Dress for the weather – we’ll be outdoors! 🧥🧣
• Cash if planning to grab snacks or drinks 💵
•This is definitely street photography, keep things light & portable as it is fast moving & covers a big area!

🍻 After the Race
Follow the teams to any of 5 bar checkpoints (30 min each), then grab a bite, explore West Town, Union Park, and Ukrainian Village. Total walk ~2 miles if weather is good 👟🌆

Last year’s checkpoints (subject to change):

• Cobra Lounge: 235 N Ashland
• Phyllis’ Musical Inn (1800 W. Division)
• Roots Pizza (1924 W. Chicago)
• Midwest Coast (2137 W Walnut)
• Five Star Bar (1424 W. Chicago)
• Output Bar (1758 W. Grand)

Nearby spots to check out:

• District Brew Yards: 417 N Ashland Ave
• West Town Bakery & Diner: 1916 W Chicago Ave

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🎶 Entertainment
Expect bands like Environmental Encroachment with lively dancing and creative costumes

🥁🎸📸 NEW THIS YEAR: Volunteer Photographers & Videographers 🎥✨

Want all-access backstage passes to the chaos? Sign up for one of 3 shifts! Includes free breakfast 🥯☕ I always volunteer as a photographer. I picked the 1st shift, but I recommend most pick the 2nd shift unless you want to come early or stay late. It is very informal and you are not obligated to stay the whole time slot. They just want proper coverage of the entire event! COME JOIN ME & BE A VOLUNTEER PHOTOGPAHER!

Contacts: media@chiditarod.org or Bock@CHIditarod.org
Shifts:
1️⃣ Early Crew: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM (I am doing this slot)

• Check-in at The Yard
• Capture team antics & EPIC start at Cobra Lounge (12:30 PM)
• 5 of 10 spots filled

2️⃣ Midday Crew: 12:45 PM – 5:45 PM (most should pick this slot)

• Cover a checkpoint or move between race locations
• 0 of 20 spots filled

3️⃣ Late Crew: 3:30 PM – 10:30 PM

• Capture finish line at Cobra Lounge (arrive 3:30 PM, finish by 6:30 PM)
• Document awards ceremony
• 0 of 10 spots filled

Sign Up Links:

✝️🎥 Capture the 49th Annual Pilsen Via Crucis: Living Way of the Cross 📸✝️

49th Annual Pilsen Via Crucis: Living Way of the Cross, a tradition in the Pilsen neighborhood since 1977

To celebrate a longstanding Chicago tradition, thousands gather along 18th Street in Pilsen every Good Friday for the Pilsen Via Crucis (Living Way of the Cross) — a powerful, moving reenactment of the Passion of Christ that has taken place every year since 1977.

I’ve attended this event several times and find it deeply inspiring. Whether you’re religious or not, this is truly something to experience in person — just for the incredible photography and cultural significance alone.

📅 Event Details
🗓 Date: Friday, April 3, 2026 (Good Friday)
⏰ Time: 8:45 AM – approx. 2:30 PM (end time flexible & weather dependent)
📍 Meet Location: 799 W. 18th Street, Chicago
🚶 Walking Distance: Approx. 1.5–2 miles, mostly outdoors
🔔 Please arrive by 8:45 AM so we can get positioned before the opening scenes begin.

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⚠️ IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ ⚠️
THIS IS A MOSTLY OUTDOOR EVENT WITH CONTINUOUS WALKING.
We will be following the procession on foot for much of the route.
🧥 Dress for the weather (layers, comfortable shoes, rain gear if needed)
🚶‍♀️ Expect standing, walking, and slow movement with large crowds
🌦️ Event is rain or shine — however, if conditions are very cold or heavy rain, the host may cancel for safety and comfort
👉 NO PARKING on 18th Street during the procession.
If driving, plan ahead — the procession does NOT end where we start, and you will need to walk back to your car unless you park strategically.

⏱️ Timing:
I don’t know the exact timing of each station, but plan about 2.5 hours if you want to see the entire reenactment. We may not stay for the full event, but we’ll try to see most of it and then end with lunch in Pilsen before restaurants get overwhelmed.

🚶 Important Notes (Please Read):

• This is a walking procession following the crowd
• 1.5–2 miles total, mostly outdoors
• Dress for the weather
• Event happens rain or shine
• If it is very cold or heavy rain, I will cancel — it’s too much time outdoors

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📸 PHOTOGRAPHERS: READ THIS
This is a fantastic street photography opportunity — emotional scenes, movement, and powerful visuals.
⚠️ Fast-moving event — plan to shoot on the go
🎒 Bring lightweight gear only (no time for tripods)
🚶‍♀️ We’ll often move ahead of the procession for clearer angles
🚉 Some photographers stand on the 18th Street Pink Line station platform for overhead shots
👀 Stay alert and respectful — crowds are dense and constantly shifting
👉 Think mobility over perfection — this is about moments, not setups.

🗺️ 2026 UPDATED ROUTE & LOCATIONS
(Locations subject to change)
NEW START LOCATION (as of 2025)
📍 18th Street & Halsted Street Approx. Address: 799 W. 18th St
Scenes include:

• The Last Supper
• Prayer in Gethsemane
• Jesus before Pontius Pilate

🆕 Last year marked a major change — the opening scenes will take place outdoors on a stage, rather than inside Providence of God Church. “Moving the opening scenes outdoors will make the experience more accessible and more deeply engaging for the community.” — Nellie Quintana, Director

Middle Stop
📍 Harrison Park 1824 S. Wood St.

• Crucifixion reenactment

End
📍 St. Pius Church 1919 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago

• Closing prayer service (We usually pull off at Harrison Park and head to lunch instead.)

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🌮 Lunch in Pilsen (After the Walk)
After the procession, some of us will grab lunch at one of the nearby restaurants in the area. These places do not take reservations so we will go where the most seats are available!