Your 2023 Ridge Run/Memorial Day Parade Survival Guide

CHICAGO – The Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA) invites runners of all ages, paces and distances to lace up their shoes and participate in the 44th Ridge Run on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. Runners can compete for overall wins or simply race to place in age categories ranging from 6 to 80 or beat their personal best time.

The Ridge Run, long considered Chicago’s favorite neighborhood race, takes participants through the Ridge Historic District to run the 10K run, 5K run and walk and Youth Mile run routes. Cheering spectators line the route, offering encouragement, water and energy to the runners. Races start and finish at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Drive.

Memorial Day along Longwood Drive is an unofficial kickoff to summer with the Ridge Run races, followed by the Memorial Day Parade that keeps people out-and-about in the area until the early afternoon.

Whether you are running in one of the races, have an entry in the parade or plan to come out to watch all the action in front of your beautiful home, here's what to know about the big day and how to prepare.

Ridge Run

The BAPA Ridge Run is marking its 44th year in 2023. It originated the same year as the first Chicago Marathon and one year before the birth of the South Side Irish Parade.

The Course

The Ridge Run races start and end at Ridge Park, covering much of Longwood Drive as far south as 110th Street, heading as far west as Oakley Avenue and continuing on a good chunk of Hoyne and Seeley avenues. The 5K wraps around Longwood and Seeley with turns at 108th Place and 103rd Street.

Both races include many steep grades of the Blue Island Ridge, the highest hill in the city of Chicago.

Schedule of Running Events

6:30 a.m. Registration & Packet Pick-Up Opens
7:30 a.m. 10K/ Youth Mile registration closes
7:50 a.m. 10K Line up at Start/Finish Line
8 a.m. 10K Race Starts
8:10 a.m. Youth Mile Starts
9 a.m. Memorial Day Service (Stage)
9 a.m. 5K Registration Closes 9:20am 5K Line up at Start/Finish Line
9:30 a.m. 5K Race Starts
10:15 a.m. Tot Trot begins (Kids Zone)
10:30 a.m. Memorial Day Parade starts arriving at park
10:30 a.m. 10K, 5K & Challenge Awards (Stage)

Ridge Run Registration

Ridge Run registration continues until race day for participants signing up for the 10K run, 5K run or the untimed walk, Ridge Run Challenge 5K and 10K, and, for kids up to age 12, the untimed Youth Mile.

Sign up online until midnight on May 25 at BAPA Ridge Run. In-person advance sign-up and packet pick up continues Thursday May 25 and Friday May 26, noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 27, from noon to 5 at Running Excels, 10328 S. Western, Chicago, and Sunday, May 28, noon to 4 p.m. at Ridge Park. Race day registration opens at Ridge Park Monday, May 29.

For more information about the BAPA Ridge Run, call 773-233-3100.

Team Town

Team Town will be open for all the running and walking teams to gather and celebrate crossing the finish line. There’s still time to sign up teams to compete in the run to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes or just for the challenge.The Ridge Run invites area groups, clubs, families, and friends to form Ridge Run Teams and take advantage of a race fee discount as well as race day perks.

Memorial Day Ceremony And Parade

After the running events, the Memorial Day ceremony honoring the men and women in the U.S. armed forces who have given their lives in service to our country, will be held at 9 a.m. at Ridge Park. Immediately following, the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Memorial Day Parade, led this year by Grand Marshal Honor Flight Chicago.

The parade steps off between 10:30 and 11 a.m., from 110th Place, traveling north down Longwood Drive to join the Ridge Run post-race festival at Ridge Park.

After The Race

Run and parade spectators and participants are invited to enjoy food, beverages, information from event sponsors, and the popular Tot Trot will take place at about 10:15 a.m.
Beverly Soccer Club will be hosting activities for children and sharing information about new soccer opportunities in the community. Little ones can compete in the annual Tot Trot.

Volunteers

Volunteers are sought to work at the registration tables, water stations and serve as course marshals for the Ridge Run. For information, email BAPA or download their volunteer guide. Volunteers get a great view of the racing action and a 'Love Where You Live' volunteer t-shirt. Sign up to volunteer here by selecting the volunteer option.po

Sponsors

The presenting sponsor of the Ridge Run is OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center, which generously provides the day's health necessities including the Ridge Run doctor and first aid tent. The hospital has been a vital health resource for the community for more than 90 years and continues to achieve accolades for quality through its revolutionary medical technologies and services both at its home and satellite locations.

Other participating sponsors include:

Mike Haggerty Buick GMC, Beverly Bank & Trust, Southtown Health Foods, Beverly Hills Animal Hospital, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Door Neighborhood Center, Boston Beer Co., Keir Foot and Ankle Specialists, Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Town Realty, Rogers Roofing, County Fair Foods, Express Med Spa, Core Physical Therapy, St. Rita High School, Smith Village, Meijer, People’s Gas, Beverly Soccer Club, The Studio Beverly, Calabria Imports, 19th Ward Youth Foundation, Rolfing Structural Integration with Elias, Special Olympics Chicago, Running Excels, The Beverly Review, Trace Ambulance, Beverly Records, Original Rainbow Cone, Marathon Sportswear, LAB Nutrition, and Home Run Inn.