5K races near Bourbonnais

The DBC Keys 2 Stability Community 5K is a family-friendly run/walk held on a Saturday in October, offering both an in-person 5K and a Virtual 5K option. It is built around local support rather than racing prestige, and community members can participate by walking, running, sponsoring, or donating. The fundraising supports families facing hidden homelessness, providing assistance with hotel stays, fresh food and produce, personal care essentials, household items, and laundry. The event also raises money for book bags, school supplies, and gift cards for homeless school children in the Chicago south suburbs, giving families, businesses, and local leaders a clear reason to participate beyond the finish line.

The Governors State University Jaguar 5K is a fall campus race held in University Park, Illinois. Registration occurs before the 10 a.m. start at 1 University Parkway. The primary event is a chip-timed 5K, complemented by a 1-mile walk and a free kids dash, accommodating runners, walkers, families, and teams at the same location. The course is contained within the Governors State University campus. Following the 5K, awards will be presented for age brackets and top finishers, concluding with an awards ceremony. Participants receive a custom T-shirt. Teams have the opportunity to fundraise collectively, with awards for the largest fundraising efforts. The event benefits scholarships. A DJ will lead warm-ups with the university’s Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy departments. Food trucks, beverages, and children’s activities, organized by the Lupus Society of Illinois, will also be available.

The Bourbonnais Turkey Trot is a fall run/walk held at Perry Farm Park in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It offers 5K, 10K, and 2-mile distances, with all races beginning in the morning. This yearly event takes place during the Thanksgiving season and is put on by the Bourbonnais Park District, making it suitable for runners seeking a timed race and for walkers or families looking for a shorter holiday activity. All distances begin at Perry Farm Park on North Kennedy Drive, utilizing the park's natural setting instead of a downtown street course. The 5K and 10K races provide awards for the top male and female finishers overall, as well as for the top three men and women in age categories ranging from 14-and-under to 50-and-over. The 2-mile walk includes overall male and female awards. Additionally, the event features costume awards for "Tom The Turkey" and best-dressed family, adding a lighthearted element to the day. The park district, which has served the community since 1986, oversees four parks covering over 379 acres of open space, ponds, trails, playgrounds, and ball fields.

The Thornton Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving morning run and walk in Glenwood, Illinois. The race hub is located near 183rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, adjacent to Sweet Woods Forest Preserve. Established in 1968, it is the oldest turkey trot in Illinois. The primary event is a 5K community run, complemented by a 1-mile community walk and a 1-mile children's race for students in 8th grade and younger. The event is designed for local runners, walkers, school teams, and families, not exclusively for competitive racers. High school teams can compete as a unit if at least three athletes from the same school participate, and the event provides support for student athletes. Runners are also eligible for age-group awards, and all finishers receive medals. This Thanksgiving format links the race to an older American running tradition: the first turkey trot was a YMCA event in Buffalo where six runners completed five miles on unpaved roads.

Turkey Trails - Greater Chicago is a Thanksgiving-themed running event in Shorewood, Illinois, starting from Route 59 Access. Participants can select a 1 mile, 5K, 10K, or half marathon, accommodating walkers, newer runners, families, and those seeking a longer distance. The event embraces the holiday spirit with finisher medals, designer shirts, custom bibs, complimentary participant photos, and refreshments at the finish line. The 1 mile and kids' dash are untimed. The 5K and 10K offer youth pricing for children 12 and under. The kids' dash provides children 10 and under with a mini bib, youth shirt, and medal. Chip timing, live results, and awards are provided for the main timed races. A virtual option is available for those unable to attend in Shorewood.

Holiday Hustle is a December race in Dexter, Michigan, offering a 5K, a 1 Mile dash, a half marathon, and a 13.1-mile relay. The shorter races guide participants through Dexter after dark, passing neighborhood holiday light displays. Entry includes chip timing, official results, a finisher medal, post-race snacks, and eligibility for overall and age-group awards. The half marathon and relay begin and end at Erratic Ale Co., proceeding along the B2B Trail through Hudson Mills before returning. The finish area is situated near a fire pit, and the brewery location provides a distinct post-run gathering spot for the longer races. The event maintains a festive and casual atmosphere, welcoming walkers, runners, and relay teams as part of a holiday fundraiser for charity.

The Manhattan Irish Fest Parade 5k is a fast, flat road race in Manhattan, Illinois, run as part of the town’s Irish Fest and parade day. The race does something unusual: it starts the parade and sends runners along the parade route before the festival crowds settle into the rest of the day. Prairie State Road Runners presents it in cooperation with the Irish American Society of County Will, and the field is capped at 520 runners, with entries open across a very wide age range. After the finish, runners get into the main festival tent for awards, food, and beverages, so the race feeds straight into the Irish Fest gathering instead of ending as a standalone 5K. Overall and age-group awards are handed out in the tent, and unclaimed awards can be picked up later at Manhattan Public Library. The parade also affects the practical side: parking in town is tight, so participants are pointed toward the Metra station. A sweeper moves at a 20-minute-per-mile pace, and runners need to stay ahead of it for a guaranteed official time.

The Shorewood Shuffle is a new 5K in Shorewood, inviting runners and walkers to wear green along a chip-timed course. The route is flat and paved, making it suitable for families, casual walkers, and those seeking a measured 5K effort. The course travels through Four Seasons Park and the adjacent neighborhood. Children 12 and under can participate in the Little Leprechaun Dash prior to the 5K with free preregistration; dashers receive a finisher ribbon and swag bag. 5K participants receive a short-sleeve shirt and finisher medal, with age-group awards presented. The event concludes with a family-friendly after party.