GENERAL INFORMATION
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is one of Chicago’s best running celebrations! The Chicago tradition continues the St. Patrick’s Day celebration and kicks off the spring running season in Chicago.
Schedule of events
Participant Guide
Packet Pick-up
Post-Race Party
Transportation and parking
Official hotel
Watch live on race day
Lost and found
ASL interpretation services
Race day lactation spaces
Information tents
After Party
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, March 20
Packet Pick-up
Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, Chicago
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
Packet Pick-up
Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, Chicago
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Mile
Grant Park, Chicago
9:30 a.m. Gear check opens
11:00 a.m. Competitive start
11:15 a.m. Recreational start
11:40 a.m. Competitive wave awards ceremony at finish line
12:00 p.m. Gear check closes
Sunday, March 22
8K Run and 2-Mile Walk
Grant Park, Chicago
7:00 a.m. Red gear check opens
7:00 a.m. Wave 1 Start Corrals (Elite, A, B, C and D) open
7:30 a.m. Blue gear check opens
7:30 a.m. Wave 2 Start Corrals (E, F, G and H) open
8:20 a.m. Wave 1 Start Corrals (Elite, A, B, C and D) close
8:20 a.m. Wheelchair race start
8:30 a.m. Wave 1 race start
8:30 a.m. Walk Wave opens
8:45 a.m. Wave 2 Start Corrals (E, F, G and H) close
9:00 a.m. Post-Race Party begins
9:00 a.m. Wave 2 race start
9:15 a.m. Walk Wave closes
9:30 a.m. Walk Wave race start
9:30 a.m. Live music begins at the Post-Race Party
11:15 a.m. Beer ticket sales end
11:30 a.m. Beer service ends
11:30 a.m. Gear check closes
12:00 p.m. Post-Race Party ends
Times and locations subject to change.
PARTICIPANT GUIDE
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Participant Guide includes all the information participants need to have a great race weekend experience. The guide will serve as a step-by-step manual to assist participants during race week, from Packet Pick-up to race morning in Grant Park and during the races themselves. Inside, you will find schedules, polices and detailed information on the weekend’s events.
View the 2026 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Participant Guide.
PACKET PICK-UP
Shufflers will receive a Packet Pick-up email on Wednesday, March 18. You must present your email to receive your participant packet, participant bag, Nike participant shirt and festive knit hat.
Participant Packet Pick-up will take place on Friday, March 20 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday, March 21 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in an enclosed tent located on the south side of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. You must attend Participant Packet Pick-up to pick up your bib number, participant bag, Nike participant shirt, festive knit hat and any pre-purchased beer tickets (if applicable). If you cannot pick up your packet, someone else can pick up your packet for you by presenting a copy of your Packet Pick-up ticket.
Shufflers are encouraged to stay and enjoy the festival-like atmosphere of the Packet Pick-up experience in Grant Park. Beer service will take place in a tent on the southwest side of Buckingham Fountain on Friday and Saturday, immediately before the entrance to the Packet Pick-up tent.
Shufflers 21 years or older will receive a drink ticket attached to their bib number that can be redeemed for one (1) Goose Island 312 or Goose Island IPA on race day.* Please note that the drink ticket attached to your bib is non-transferrable. Additional drink tickets can be purchased for $8 each during Packet Pick-up and the Post-Race Party. Purchased tickets can be redeemed on Friday, March 20 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Sunday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
*You must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle race weekend.
POST-RACE PARTY
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Post-Race Party will be held at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park (Columbus and Ida B. Wells Drive) immediately following the 8K Run and 2-Mile Walk on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Post-Race Party will feature live music from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Shufflers 21 years or older will receive a drink ticket attached to their bib number that can be redeemed for one (1) Goose Island 312 or Goose Island IPA on race day. Please note that the drink ticket attached to your bib is non-transferrable. Additional drink tickets can be purchased for $8 each during Packet Pick-up and the Post-Race Party. Purchased tickets can be redeemed on Sunday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.*
*You must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages at the Post-Race Party.
TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING
Millennium Garages
Millennium Garages offer the closest parking options to Grant Park. A discounted parking rate will be available to Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle attendees throughout race weekend.
Parking passes purchased online in advance of your arrival will work at all four Millennium Garages: Grant Park North, Grant Park South, Millennium Park and Lakeside.
When purchasing parking for Packet Pick-up in Grant Park, we recommend parking at the Grant Park South garage.
On race day, all four Millennium Garages will be open, but the garage entrance and exit ramps may be impacted by the event’s rolling street closures.
The Grant Park North (25 N. Michigan Ave.) and Grant Park South (325 S. Michigan Ave.) garages will be accessible throughout race day. Those traveling to and from these garages should plan their route to avoid Michigan Ave., between Ida B. Wells Dr. and Roosevelt Rd., between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. due to planned event street closures.
The Millennium Park and Lakeside garages will only be accessible from southbound Columbus Dr., at Randolph St. (5 S. Columbus Dr.) before 8 a.m. and after 10 a.m. Drivers will not be able to enter or exit these garages from 8 a.m. to approximately 10 a.m. Please note, there will be no access to the Millennium Park Garage from northbound Columbus Dr. due to planned event street closures.
For more information, visit millenniumgarages.com.
Public transportation
Public transportation is strongly recommended for race day transportation to Grant Park. Go to metra.com or transitchicago.com to plan your route by train or bus. If you drive, allow sufficient time for traffic congestion and street closures in the downtown area due to the race.
Metra
Metra trains are a great way to travel downtown race weekend. Participants and spectators are encouraged to take advantage of Metra’s $7 Saturday/Sunday passes good for unlimited rides on either Saturday or Sunday, or Metra’s $10 Weekend Pass (available in the Ventra app only) for unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Ventra App users can also upgrade the Metra Day Pass or Saturday or Sunday Pass to the Regional Day Pass for unlimited rides on CTA and Pace for 24 hours for an additional $2.50 (requires registered Ventra card). For more information on Metra service, visit metra.com or call 312.322.6777.
Take CTA race day
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the most economical and convenient way to get to Grant Park on race day. Check out CTA’s transit tips below and visit transitchicago.com for more information.
CTA Transit directions to Grant Park
From Downtown Chicago
- From the Adams/Wabash station on the Green, Orange, Pink and Brown elevated lines, walk one block south to Jackson Blvd. then one block east on Jackson Blvd. to enter the event at Michigan Ave. From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at the accessible Jackson station and walk three blocks east on Jackson Blvd. to enter the event at Jackson Blvd.
From Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station
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Transportation to and from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station may change on race day due to event street closures. We encourage you to visit transitchicago.com/alerts for the latest information on bus re-routes and service information.
CTA encourages you to purchase your fares in advance to avoid lines race weekend. Visit ventrachicago.com for fare information and to purchase fares in advance.
Divvy
Explore Divvy Bikes – Chicago’s premier bike and scooter share system. Rent a bike or scooter conveniently from various docking stations across Chicago.
Bike valet
World Bicycle Relief will provide a free bike valet on Sunday, March 22 from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for participants and volunteers at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. Individuals are encouraged to bring a bike lock in the event the Bike Valet has reached capacity.
OFFICIAL HOTEL
The Hilton Chicago is the official hotel of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. Located across the street from Grant Park, at 720 South Michigan Avenue, the Hilton Chicago is steps away from the start and finish lines and is a hub of activity on race weekend.
WATCH LIVE ON RACE DAY
Watch the finish line livestream on nbcchicago.com and telemundochicago.com on race morning from 8 to 11 a.m.
LOST AND FOUND
Lost and found items will be collected throughout race weekend at Packet Pick-up and in Grant Park on race day. Following the event, items can be reclaimed through our Lost and Found platform, available at shamrockshuffle.com/lostandfound. Items reclaimed post-event may be shipped to individuals for a shipping fee.
ASL INTERPRETATION SERVICES
American Sign Language services will be available in Grant Park race weekend to assist deaf and hard of hearing participants. Interpreters will be available at Packet Pick-up on Friday, March 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, March 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The interpreter will be located at the Adaptive Program counter at Packet Pick-up. On race day, Sunday, March 22, the interpreters will be at the Adaptive Program tent from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Adaptive Program tent is located on the south side of Jackson Drive between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Grant Park.
RACE DAY LACTATION SPACES
Private and semi-private lactation spaces are available to participants on race day. Participants interested in using the spaces will have access to a private seating area (chair and table) or semi-private tented facility, a water source or a portable hand-washing station and a power source. Spaces will be available in the following locations:
Pre-race: Private and semi-private space at the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan Avenue) and at Buckingham Fountain (adjacent to the Buckingham Fountain Information Tent).
Post-race: Semi-private tented facility at Buckingham Fountain (adjacent to the Buckingham Fountain Information Tent).
Please note, the semi-private tented facility on Buckingham Fountain is available to spectators.
Participants interested in using the pre-race space at the Hilton Chicago are asked to email office@shamrockshuffle.com for instructions on how to access the space. Individuals interested in using the facility on the Buckingham Fountain deck are not required to book the space. All facilities will be first come, first served. Staff will be onsite at each location to assist those interested in using the space(s). Please note, the event will not store or transport equipment.
Additional questions about lactation spaces can be directed to the office@shamrockshuffle.com email in advance of the event.
INFORMATION TENTS
Have questions on race day? Visit one of the three Information Tents on site. Volunteers are there to help you find your way, answer race day questions and enjoy the race. View the Grant Park site map for Information Tent locations.
AFTER PARTY
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle After Party will be hosted at The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen on Sunday, March 22 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Shufflers who bring their race bib will receive one (1) complimentary Goose Island beer.
You must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle race weekend.
