Life Time Chicago Half Pre-Race Party
Friday, September 26 – Saturday, September 27
In-Person Location & Schedule
The party has arrived. Give a warm, Second City welcome to the Life Time Chicago Half Pre-Race Party! Before you run through Chicago’s historic Southside, stop by the Pre-Race Party to experience live music, food and beverages, and plenty of running gear and accessories to get you ready for race day. Come for Packet Pickup, stay for the party.
Location
- Navy Pier | Festival Hall A
- 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Schedule
- Friday, September 26 | 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday, September 27 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Shakeout Run at 9:00 AM (with Coach Mike)
- Starts and ends at Navy Pier near the outside doors of Festival Hall A
MORE THAN AN EXPO
Chicago Half & 5K athletes + family and friends can look forward to:
- MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT, featuring live music and motivational content to get you race day ready.
- FOOD AND DRINKS, plenty of options to choose from that will give you a little taste of Chicago.
- PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
- Unique SPONSOR ACTIVATIONS from leading outdoor/running brands, vendors and exhibitors.
Gather your crew and turn race day into race weekend. Who’s ready to join the Chicago-style party this fall?
PRE-RACE PARTY ENTERTAINMENT
A party just isn’t a party without some entertainment. During your visit, you’ll experience a mix of live performances from musicians, comedians, and of course, Coach Mike.
PICKING UP YOUR PACKET
Athletes will receive their bib number at the point of picking up their race packet. Corral placement for both half marathon and 5K is done by estimated finishing time provided upon registration. Your corral letter will be shown on a sticker that is placed on your bib at the point of pickup.
To streamline your experience, all participants are now required to use the Life Time App for packet pick-up. Emails were sent to all participants with their unique code and instructions on how to access the Life Time app.
- All participants must pick up their race bib during one of the Packet Pickup times, unless they purchase either the Race Day Will Call or Athlete Packet Mailing option.
- Any request to move to a faster corral or to switch race distances must be made at the Solutions kiosk during Packet Pickup. Be sure to review your corral before leaving Packet Pickup.
- Participants must bring a photo ID to pick up their race packet. Participants may pick up on behalf of their friends/family by presenting a copy of the participant’s photo ID and a screen shot of their participant’s QR code from the Life Time App. A digital photo on a cell phone will suffice.
- Participants will receive their race packet, filled with their race bib with timing chip attached, safety pins and race shirt.
- Those who wish to exchange shirt sizes may do so at the Results Tent on Race Day, subject to available sizes. Shirt exchange will only be available after Will Call Packet Pick Up is over.
- Participants must complete the medical information on the back of the bib – which must be worn on race day.
NOTE: There is NO Race Day Packet Pick Up for those who did not purchase Race Day Will Call. Please plan accordingly.
ALTERNATIVE PACKET PICKUP OPTIONS
Packet Mailing
Skip packet pickup and have your official race bib and shirt shipped directly to your door. Should you need to replace items that were mailed to you, please visit the solutions tent in the finish festival. The deadline to order the packet mailing is Wednesday, August 20.
The deadline to purchase this service has passed. If you purchased packet mailing your packet will be shipped early-mid September. You will receive an email with tracking information once it has shipped.
Will Call
The Will Call option is another convenient way to bypass the packet pickup event and allows you to pick up your packet race morning. Make sure to arrive at the Solutions tent during the Will Call time slots or you won’t be able to race. You can view the Will Call operation times via the link below.
HOW TO GET THERE
We want to make sure you get to the Life Time Chicago Half Expo without a hitch!
Directions to Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue Chicago, IL 60611
- From the north, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) to the Grand Avenue exit and follow signs to Navy Pier.
- From the northwest, take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the Ohio Street Exit, head east on Ohio to Wells, head south on Wells to Illinois Street, then proceed east to Navy Pier. A secondary route is to take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the Ohio Street exit, head east on Ohio to Columbus/Fairbanks, then go south on Columbus /Fairbanks to Illinois, and proceed east on Illinois to Navy Pier.
- From the west, take the Eisenhower Express (I-290) to Columbus Drive, north to Illinois Street and proceed east to Navy Pier.
- From the southwest, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) north to Illinois Street exit and turn right (east) at Grand Avenue to Navy Pier Parking.
- From the south, take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) east to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) north to Illinois Street exit and turn right (east) at Grand Avenue to Navy Pier Parking.
- From the southeast, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) north to Illinois Street exit.
Public Transportation
There are Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus routes that service Navy Pier. They include: #2 Hyde Park Express, #65 Grand, #29 State, #66 Chicago, #120 Northwestern/Wacker Express, #121 Union/Wacker Express, #124 – Navy Pier.
Parking Options
- Due to it’s location in relation to the event, we highly encourage visitors to park in the East Parking Garage of Navy Pier as a first choice, West Parking Garage as a second choice.
- $12 parking vouchers for the West Parking Garage, for One Hour, are available at the information booth within the Pre Race Party.
Alternative Parking Options
- Grand Plaza Park is located at 540 N. State St. Enter from Grand or Ohio Streets.
- Rate: $15
- Ogden Plaza Self Park is located at 300 E. North Water St. From Illinois St., turn right on New Street or McClurg and turn right on E. North Water. To get to Navy Pier from Ogden Plaza Self Park, walk four blocks east on Illinois to Navy Pier.
- Rate: $15
- Millennium Park Garage is located at 5 S. Columbus Dr. Enter from Columbus Drive, north of Monroe St. or south of Randolph St., or lower Randolph St.
- Rate: $14
- Cityfront Place Parking Garage is located at 400 N. McClurg Ct. Enter this location at 401 N New St. To get to Navy Pier from Cityfront Place Parking Garage, walk one block north and then four blocks east on Illinois to Navy Pier. Please see the Cityfront attachment. Guests must use the 4 – digit or QR code Validation QR: 7858 at time of payment.
- Rate: $15
*Subject to availability. Rates subject to change. The alternate special parking offer is valid year-round at the Grand, Plaza Park, Ogden Plaza Self Park, Cityfront Place Parking Garage, and Millennium Park garages. Must obtain validation in order to receive the special rate. Navy Pier Guest Services validates for cars parked at Grand Plaza Park, Ogden Plaza Self Park, Cityfront Place Parking Garage, and Millennium Park garages ONLY. Validation rate provides 12 hours of parking in the Grand Plaza Park, Ogden Plaza Self Park, Cityfront Place Parking Garage, and Millennium Park garages. The alternate parking special rate cannot be applied to Navy Pier East or West Garages (600 E. Grand Ave).
Once at Navy Pier
Use this Map to navigate to Festival Hall A.
