Run for the Zoo is back! This annual event brings everyone from toddlers to elite athletes together for an exciting day of healthy activity in support of Lincoln Park Zoo.

Every race registration helps keep the zoo free 365 days a year. Funds raised through this beloved family-friendly tradition also go to save species, from gorillas in the Congo to parrots in Puerto Rico.

Choose from:
* 10K Run
* 5K Run
* 5K Walk
* Kids’ Course (for kids ages 3–8)
* Wildlife Warrior (10K and 5K)
* Virtual Race

The flat-surface 5K and 10K race courses are chip-timed and U.S.A. Track & Field-certified, taking you through gardens and habitats, around Nature Boardwalk, along Lake Michigan, and into Lincoln Park—all with the Chicago skyline as your backdrop.

Whether you’re a veteran racer or new to a 5K/10K, Run for the Zoo is an open, inviting, and supportive event. It connects you to a community of other Lincoln Park Zoo fans raising money for a common reason: saving wildlife.

All participants receive a collectable tech-blend shirt, and, for the first time, all runners will receive a finisher medal! Kids’ Course participants also receive a T-shirt and Kids’ Course medal.

For information on more events like this, check out our roundup of 5K Races and Kids’ Fun Runs.