Ana Banana 5k & Fun Run

Join Us for

The Val Nora: 5K + Food Truck Festival

Sunday, July 12, 2026

9:30am-12:00pm

2040 Brown Ave., Evanston, IL 60201

WALK • RUN• ROLL

All Abilities Welcome

Fun, Family-Friendly Event

2K Option • Food Trucks • DJ • Face Painting & More

Meet Players of The Northwestern Men's & Women's Basketball Teams

Registration Includes: Race Bib, T-shirt, and one meal ticket from a food truck

ALL AGES WELCOME, FOOD AND T-SHIRT INCLUDED WITH REGISTRATION

(FOOD TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE DAY OF THE EVENT)

Honoring Disability Pride Month & Supporting Over The Rainbow Residents

In memory of Val Nora, a longtime Over The Rainbow resident whose commitment and generosity meant so much to our community.

We invite youth between the ages of 5 and 14 to join us at the North Shore Youth Triathlon (NSYT). The NSYT challenges youth to develop fitness and achieve their personal best while having fun!

The NSYT is hosted by the not-for-profit Evanston-based OWLS (Open Water Lake Swimmers) and draws on over fifteen years of experience inspiring youth through triathlon.

The event is held at Evanston Township High School. This includes a pool swim, closed to traffic bike course, and run on ETHS grounds.

Event Distances:

11-14 year old: Swim 200 yards, Bike 5 miles, Run 1.2 miles

7-10 year old: swim 100 yard, Bike 2.5 miles, Run 0.7 miles

5-6 year old splash & dash: swim flexible based on skill and comfort level, Run 0.5 mile

*For need based scholarship, please contact Craig Strong at [email protected]

*If your child would like to race in a different age category than their current age for any reason (Ex: shorter or longer swim), please register them for their current age group and then email [email protected] so we can make the change for you.

Packet Pick Up:

Friday, August 14th 5-7:00 PM

Saturday August 15th 4-7:00 PM

Both packet pickups will be located at ETHS in the grassy area near the pool entrance off of Dodge Avenue, north of Door 1.

Join us for our St. Monica Summerfest 5K Run/Walk on August 22, 2026! This chip-timed race begins at St. Monica Academy on Carmen Avenue between Mont Clare Avenue and Nottingham Avenue (7100 W. Carmen Avenue) and travels through the neighborhood. The Mini Mustang Dash begins at 9:30 AM and the 5K race/walk begins at 10 AM and finishes back at the school just as our annual Summerfest is beginning. Then be sure to stick around for a day of fun at our annual Summerfest!

Your registration includes a race bag with a commemorative race shirt and many goodies. You will also receive a voucher for one complimentary beverage at our Summerfest.

Race Packet pickup will be on August 20th and August 21st at Dick Pond Athletics, 575 Busse Hwy, Park Ridge Illinois in the Village Green Shopping Center. Pickup times will be from 10 AM to 8 PM.

1st place finisher in the male and female categories will receive a gift card for Dick Pond Athletics.

All proceeds from the event will benefit St. Monica Academy. St. Monica Academy is a growing Catholic elementary school community that rewards not only academic excellence, but also the human element of the spirit, the mind, and the heart.

We are no longer taking registrations for the Kids 1/2 Mile Color Run, the race is full. Thank you.

On Saturday, August 24. 2024, Skokie's Backlot Dash 5K and Kid's Run will be held in Downtown Skokie (in and around the grounds of Skokie's Backlot Bash) and will include a half-mile kids run.

Packet Pick-up:

• Thursday 8/21/24 9a-8:30p Weber Leisure Center 9300 Weber Park Place Skokie

• Friday 8/22/24 9a-3p Weber Leisure Center 9300 Weber Park Place Skokie

• Friday 8/22/24 5p-7p at Backlot Bash (by the intersection of Floral St and Oakton St.)

• Race Day 8/23/24 6:30a-7:45a 5215 Oakton St. Skokie (pick-up is inside the Backlot Bash grounds, at the beer tent on Oakton St)

Race day registration:

6:30 am – 7:45 a.m.

Kids ½ mile Fun Run

8 a.m.

5K race begins

8:30 a.m.

The awards ceremony will follow 5K.

5K course will close promptly at 9:30 am and participants will be asked to move to the sidewalk to complete the race.

• Participants will receive

the following:

5K Run

• Chip timing

• T-shirt

• USATF certified course

• One Free Beer

Kid's Run

• T-shirt

• Participation medal

Age groups for races are as follows: Male and female – 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 and over.

Presented by: Skokie Chamber of Commerce / Skokie Public Library / Village of Skokie / Skokie Park District

Niles Township High School District 219

The 5K Fun Run and Family Walk is the Coalition's main fundraiser for the year and we can't wait to see you there!

Join our Board, Partner Practices, sponsors, grantees - and their babies! - and wonderful supporters like you as we enjoy a wonderful community day, get active and raise vital funds. Participants have the opportunity to host their own fundraising pages and organize their own teams to run, walk or bike the 5K.

We'll start the day with our chip-timed 5K, followed by our Kids Dash and Family Walk. Immediately after the race, enjoy a food truck, face painting, arts and crafts and more!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2025

• BLUE STAR MEMORIAL WOODS - 701 E Lake Ave. Glenview, IL 60025

• Race day bib and tshirt pick-up: Starts at 7:30 a.m.

• Opening Ceremony: 8:15 a.m.

• Immediately following: 5K, Kids Dash and Family Walk

• Post-race DJ, face painters, a food truck and much more.

** If you register after Sept 10, we cannot guarantee a race shirt or your exact size. You will have a race bib, receive swag and enjoy our wonderful day! **

Our Why: At the Chicago Coalition for Family Building, we believe that everyone who wants to start a family deserves the chance. Our mission is to remove financial barriers that prevent the creation of a family. As we work toward this goal, we take action to financially and emotionally support those struggling with infertility. Join us in giving hope and building families!