What better way to build community, support local and national charities, and encourage active lifestyles for your family than participating in upcoming fun runs or 5Ks? There are several opportunities to join in on trail runs, a 2K, or a full 5K. No fear if running isn’t for you. Walking, jogging, and stroller pushing is encouraged at several runs included on our list.
You could also join in on the fun and dress up for themed races, make signs to cheer on your friends and neighbors along the way, or partake in the post race festivities with live music and prizes. Cross the finish line as a family of change-makers, empowered to take on the next race ahead. Meet us at the starting line!
April 2024 Races and Fun Runs
Healthy Kids Running Series Spring 2024
various start dates
Five-race series with events of different lengths for 2-year-olds through 8th graders.
Superhero 3K Fun Run (Sensory Garden Playground, Lisle)
April 6, 2024 | 8:30am – 10:30am
Benefits Play for All Playground and Garden Foundation.
Mt. Melas Adventure Run (Mount Prospect)
April 13, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Participate individually or as a team.
Mustang Trot 5K Run/Walk (Downers Grove South High School)
April 14, 2024 | 9:00am
Benefits Blessings in a Backpack.
Chicken Run 5k, 10k, and Lil Peeps Kids’ Run (Batavia)
April 20, 2024 | 7:30am – 10:30am
Register in advance.
Walk for Autism (Arlington Heights)
April 20, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
1.25-mile family-friendly walk.
2K Glow Run and Walk (Glen Ellyn)
April 20, 2024 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
1.25-mile fun run featuring glow items and a DJ.
Earth Day Run (Brookfield)
April 21, 2024 | 8:00am – 11:00am
Visit the Brookfield Zoo for a 2.2 mile family fun-run.
Run, Walk and Roll 5k and 1-Mile (Bloomingdale)
April 21, 2024 | 8:30am
Benefits care and services provided at Marklund.
Color Run (Clarendon Hills)
April 26, 2024 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Inaugural color run at Prospect Park. Register in advance.
Color Run, Walk and Roll (Franklin Park)
April 28, 2024 | 9:00am – 11:00am
2-mile course featuring various activities along the way.
Good Life Race (Oak Park River Forest High School)
April 28, 2024 | 8:30am
5k, Youth Mile, and Junior Dash. Benefits Housing Forward.
May 2024 Races and Fun Runs
Cinco de Mayo Color Crawl (West Chicago)
May 3, 2024 | 6:00pm
Two-mile walk and run through Kress Creek Farms Park.
Firefly Race Series (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
May 3, 2024 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm
3K Fun Run on May 3, 2024, with 10K the next morning.
Stars and Spikes 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run (Madison Elementary, Lombard)
May 4, 2024 | 9:00am
This year’s theme is superheroes.
Color Run (Arlington Heights)
May 11, 2024 | 8:30am – 10:30am
2K Color Run hosted by Salt Creek Rural Park District.
Run for 102 (La Grange Park)
May 11, 2024 | 8:00am
PTO/PTCs for the six schools in District 102 host this 1-mile fun run and 5k.
Mutt Strut 5K & 1-Mile Puppy Path (Lombard)
May 18, 2024 | 8:00am
Dogs are encouraged but not required.
Darien Dash 5K/10K & 1-Mile Run/Walk
May 19, 2024 | 8:00am
Also includes free kiddie fun run for ages 5 and under.
Walk the Walk for Mental Health (Hinsdale)
May 19, 2024 | 8:30am
One-mile color walk supporting Community House.
Run for the Roses (La Grange Park)
May 19, 2024 | 8:00am
Benefits Pillars Health.
Tower Trot 5K, 10K, Double, and Fun Run (Western Springs)
May 25, 2024 | 8:30am
Fundraising for Healing Hearts for Ashley will be held in conjunction with the race.
June 2024 Races and Fun Runs
Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K and 10K (half-mile kids’ run) (Wheaton)
June 1, 2024 | 7:30 am
Benefits funds for Cosley Zoo animals, exhibit development projects, public programs, and conservation projects.
Roselle’s Run for the Roses
June 2 | times TBA
Family-friendly 5k, as well as a 1/3 of a mile youth run afterwards.
Run for the Zoo (Chicago)
June 2, 2024 | 7:00am – 12:00pm
Benefits Lincoln Park Zoo.
La Grange Rocks 5K
June 7, 2024 | 6:00 pm
Benefits The LeaderShop.
Chicago Congenital Heart Walk (Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago)
June 8, 2024 | 8:30am – 11:30am
Benefitting Children’s Heart Foundation.
The Garden Dash 2K/4K (Prospect Heights)
June 15, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Benefitting Prospect Heights Police Department Helping Hands Fund.
Daisy Dash (Clarendon Hills)
June 16, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Family-friendly 5k and youth 1K fun-run.
Shopping Cart Shuffle 5K Run/Walk & Kids Dash (Mallard Lake Forest Preserve, Bloomingdale)
June 22, 2024 | 8:15am
Benefits Neighborhood Food Pantries.
July 2024 Races and Fun Runs
4 on the 4th (Downtown Elmhurst)
July 4, 2024 | 7:15am – 9:30am
4-mile race, followed by a Kids 1k.
Frontier Days Stampede (Arlington Heights)
July 7, 2024 | 7:30am – 9:00am
Ran in conjunction with the five day festival.
Tiny Tot Triathlon (La Grange)
July 13, 2024 | 9:00am – 11:00am
Register in advance for these Unplug Illinois festivities.
Windmill Whirl 5K Race and Kid Fun Run 1K (Batavia)
July 14, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Register in advance for t-shirt.
Stan’s Donut 5K Run, Walk and Kids Dash (Chicago)
July 27, 2024 | 8:00am
Race is located at Soldier Field and includes donuts along the course.
August 2024 Races and Fun Runs
TwiLight Fun Run (Palatine)
August 9, 2024 | 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Ben’s Memorial Mile (Downers Grove)
August 10, 2024 | times TBA
Newly designed event for 2024. Check back for more information.
2K Kids Color Bash Run (Glen Ellyn)
August 10, 2024 | 9:00am – 11:00am
Register in advance.
Parkie’s 5k and Super Parkie’s Fun Run (Bolingbrook)
August 24, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Register in advance for a cape.
St. Mary of Gostyn’s 5K Race and 1 Mile Run (Downers Grove)
August 24, 2024 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Bartlett Lions Day Dash
August 25, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
September 2024 Races and Fun Runs
Brookfield Zoo Run
September 8, 2024 | 8:30am
Proceeds benefit the Brookfield Zoo.
Medinah Color Run
September 13, 2024 | 5:30pm
Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk (Montrose Harbor, Chicago)
September 14, 2024 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Thin Mint Sprint (Fox River Grove)
September 14, 2024 | 8:30am – 12:00pm
Benefitting Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.
Color Run (River Forest)
September 21, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Inaugural 1-mile race, benefitting West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA).
Fit4Fall 5K and 1-Mile Youth Run (West Chicago)
September 21, 2024 | 7:30am – 9:30am
Harvest Hustle 5K and Kids Mile (Geneva)
September 21, 2024 | 10:15am start
Inside Out Club’s Fall Family 5K (Danada Forest Preserve, Wheaton)
September 22, 2024 | 9:00am start
Mecca Moves Walk, Run, Roll (Burr Ridge)
September 28, 2024 | times TBA
Family-friendly annual event at Burr Ridge Village Center.
October 2024 Races and Fun Runs
Run for the Kids Superhero Hustle 5K Run/2K Walk (Villa Park)
October 5, 2024 | 9:00am start
Benefits Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley.
The Scarecrow Scramble (Lisle)
October 5, 2024 | 5:15pm start
Cheesy Pretzel 5k and 1 Mile Walk (Bolingbrook)
October 6, 2024 | 8:00am – 11:00am
Register in advance for this event through the Promenade.
Howl-O-Ween 5K (Bolingbrook)
October 13, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Frank Lloyd Wright Races (Oak Park)
October 20, 2024 | 8:00am – 10:00am
Running for the 47th year through the streets of Oak Park.
Run Your Mutt Off (Warrenville)
October 26, 2024 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Supports Naperville Area Humane Society.
Hephzibah Halloween Fun Run and Walk (Oak Park)
October 27, 2024 | 9:00am – 11:30am
Fraidycat 5k, 8k and Meow Mile (Oswego)
October 27, 2024 | 9:00am start
November 2024 Races and Fun Runs
Gobbler Hobbler 10K and Mashed Potato Mile (Oswego)
November 10, 2024 | 8:30am – 10:30am
Reindeer Run (Brookfield Zoo)
November 16, 2024 | 7:00pm start
2024 Races Not Yet Announced
These family-friendly races and fun-runs were held in 2023, but have not announced their plans as of July 5, 2024. Check their websites for more details.
- Monster and Me Mile (Lemont)
- Mummy Mile (St. Charles)
- Family Flashlight Walk (Rolling Meadows)
- Cantigny 5K Run Walk (Wheaton)
- Beat the Eagle 5K and Kids 1-Mile Timed Run (Lombard)
- Run Fox Run (Elk Grove Village)
- Chilly Chili 5K and 2K (Schaumburg)
Did we miss a race or fun run in your area? Let us know, and we’ll add it to the list! You can also check out our outdoor activities page for even more ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family.
