🛒CHIditarod XXI: Chaos, Carts, Costumes, Charity & a Chicago-Style Party!🛒🍺
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🛒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:
Note: You do not need a pass to watch the race or pageant, but it’s VIP chaos access! 🛒🤣
🎉 Get ready to:
- Witness outrageous costumes 🎭
- Cheer on wild shopping cart races 🛒💨
- Enjoy bars, snacks, and Chicago madness 🍻🍕
- Participate in one of Chicago’s most unique charitable events ❤️
Official Event Info:
🙌 It’s a multi-meetup event so expect a lively group!
🚇 Getting There
Public transportation recommended 🚆
CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Driving & Parking
Metered street parking & nearby lots available. Limited during the event — watch for road closures, no-parking signs, and towing. Use SpotHero or ParkWhiz for best options 🅿️
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⚠️ KEEP RSVP current! Do not be a no show!
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“Race, revel, and rock the streets—21+ years of chaos, costumes & charity!” 🛒🎉🔥