Palos Park Spooky Shuffle 2026

Race T-Shirt Style Options

This year, we're giving participants more choice by offering both cotton and poly-blend performance "tech" race shirts. Providing options helps us better match shirts to participants' preferences, encourages shirts to be worn long after race day, and supports our continued efforts to make the Spooky Shuffle a more sustainable event.

Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up

Packet Pick-Up will be held at the Palos Park Recreation Center (8901 W. 123rd Street, Palos Park, IL) on Friday, October 16th from Noon-7pm and Race Day starting at 8am. To ensure the races start on time, please utilize the packet pick up on Friday.

A friend or family member can pick up your packet. This must be communicated to race staff prior to packet pick up so we can verify ID.

Parking

Race day parking will be at Swallow Cliff South off LaGrange Road (please do not go to Swallow Cliff North off 83 where the stairs are). Once the Swallow Cliff South lots are full, we will redirect cars to Forty Acre Woods on 119th Street east of LaGrange. You will have the option of walking the quarter mile to the start or taking a shuttle.

Day of registration and packet pick-up is allowed and will start at 8:00am

10K Run Starts

9 AM

5K Run/Walk Starts

9:05 AM

You must be registered by Friday, October 2nd to be guaranteed your race shirt/style/size, reusable cup, and finisher medal.

5K & 10K Awards

Top Overall Male/Female

1st, 2nd and 3rd in the following age groups (co-ed age group awards):

18 & under

19 - 29

30 - 39

40 - 49

50 - 59

60+

*If there are over 25 participants in an age category, a Men's and Woman's division will be added.

*If there are over 25 participants in the '18 & Under' age category, a younger age group will be added based on the ages of those registered.

Cut Off Times

Although this event is a run/walk, there will be general cut off times to ensure the event stays on schedule with permits and staffing/volunteers/police assistance. 5k run/walkers will begin at 9:05am and have until 10:00am to finish (18 minute pace). 10k run/walkers will begin at 9:00am and have until 11:00am to finish (20 minute pace).

A "sweeper" will walk each race course beginning 5 minutes after each event has started to ensure we don't have any lost runners.

Inclement Weather
This race will happen rain or shine! The Village of Palos Park monitors the weather and follows the proper protocol in place regarding inclement weather. Staff holds the right to cancel the event due to inclement weather. Registration is non-refundable.

The Palos Park Spooky Shuffle highlights the sprawling woodlands of the majestic Sag Valley Trail System, part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Starting at Swallow Cliff South Forest Preserves (the sister preserve to the famous Swallow Cliff Stairs located at Swallow Cliff North), both courses take you on wide, unpaved, mostly gravel trails through the unique topography of the Palos Region with its ravines and hills resulting in elevation not common in the Chicagoland area. Based on trail conditions, courses may change slightly.

5K Course Map: The 5k course is last year's out-and-back route bypassing Horsetail Lake. The course starts in the parking lot near the Grove 2 Pavilion and heads west on the Brown Trail. You'll then head south on the Yellow Trail making your way to LaGrange Road and 40 Acre Woods. Once you go under LaGrange Road, you'll hit a T intersection and head south on the Green Trail towards the horse stables. About a quarter of a mile down you will see a barricade denoting the turnaround point in the course and you will head back the way you came. Confused, see an animated version of the course HERE.

10K Course Map: Similar to the 5k route, this course starts in the parking lot, but heads slightly east to get to the Yellow Trail. Once you're on the Yellow Trail, you'll follow it east to the Black Trail and take that south to Horsetail Lake. You will turn around when you arrive at the Horsetail Lake parking lot. Once on the Yellow Trail, you will take it under LaGrange Road and veer left to 40 Acer Woods. Once there, there will be a road crossing at 119th and you will complete the NE loop in a counter-clockwise direction returning to 40 Acer Woods and continuing to the finish. Confused, see an animated version of the route HERE. **Please note that this course has steep inclines and declines and may have loose gravel on the trail. Those prone to falls or are unsure of their balance on steep inclines and declines should opt for the 5k course.