Schedule and packet pickup
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup will be available the day of the event starting an hour before the race starts.
Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk 2027
- Date
- Friday, January 1, 2027
- Start time
- 10:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Itasca, Illinois
- Entry fee
- From $25 · goes up to $30 on Oct 9, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5k | 5K | Jan 1, 202710:00 AM | $25$30 after Oct 9, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The 5K fee goes up to $30 on Oct 9, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $25 until Oct 9, then $30 until Nov 20, then $35 until Dec 4, then $40 until Dec 22, then $45 until Jan 1, then $50 until Jan 2.
Online registration closes Jan 2, 2027, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $25, entry is about 29 percent below a typical 5K in Illinois, which costs $35 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Illinois runs 35:55, about 11:34 a mile, based on 426 races with published results. Women typically finish in 40:13 and men in 31:16.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:19 AM, and the 5k starts at 10:00 AM. The start sits about 710 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Church Street Brewing Company, Itasca, IL 60143
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2026 results
All results (4 years)5k
431
finishers
35:38
median (11:30 /mi)
18:23
winning time
50% / 50%
women / men
1 Mile
34
finishers
14:42
median (14:42 /mi)
8:12
winning time
62% / 38%
women / men
Aggregated from official results for Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk?
At the 2026 5k, the fastest tenth finished in 24:21 or better, the top quarter in 29:20, and half the field in 35:38; the last tenth came in after 55:26.
At the 2026 1 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 10:01 or better, the top quarter in 11:58, and half the field in 14:42; the last tenth came in after 21:22.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 23:58 | 25:37 |
| 20-29 | 31:48 | 25:29 |
| 30-39 | 22:06 | 24:06 |
| 40-49 | 23:23 | 19:55 |
| 50-59 | 28:52 | 21:00 |
| 60-69 | 31:37 | 24:37 |
| 70+ | 47:35 | 34:44 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Finishers by year
Up 8 percent since 2023.
430
2023
461
2024
499
2025
465
2026
All events combined, from official results.
Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk 5K year by year
From 2023 to 2026, the field went from 430 to 431 finishers, and the median time rose from 34:25 to 35:38.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 431 (-14%) | 35:38 | under 24:21 | 18:23 |
| 2025 | 499 (+8%) | 35:07 | under 23:38 | 17:09 |
| 2024 | 461 (+7%) | 33:57 | under 24:32 | 16:59 |
| 2023 | 430 | 34:25 | under 23:28 | 17:02 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most Illinois 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 29:20, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here run 3 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around January 1 the day usually runs from 26°F at dawn to 36°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 20% of days. Cold snaps dip to 9°F and hot years reach 50°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 6 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
From the race's page
What the organizers of Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk cover on their registration page, in brief.
Parking and travel
Parking Information
Race Day Parking: Parking is allowed at most of the businesses along industrial avenue (despite the posted signs). Please follow the instructions of the parking attendants. - Lots closest to the brewery will fill up quickly. Volunteers…
Shirt and medal
Race Swag
Feeling Super Festive? Check out the Cheers to Beers Swag Upgrades!
Awards
Age Group Awards
In addition to a Finisher Medal for all participants, age group awards will be presented live for top 3 M/F in each age group! 10 Year Categories: 1-9, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80 & Over. Are Dogs Allowed? Sorry…
Race details
- Where
- Church Street Brewing Company, Itasca, IL 60143Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 710 feet
- Results posted by the race
- Results
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2027 (Jan 1, 2027), 2026 (Jan 1, 2026), 2025 (Jan 1, 2025), 2024 (Jan 1, 2024), 2023 (Jan 1, 2023), 2022 (Jan 1, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Cheers to New Year's 5k Run/Walk?
- Friday, January 1, 2027, starting at 10:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees, and rises to $30 on Oct 9, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Jan 2, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Illinois?
- At $25, entry is about 29 percent below a typical 5K in Illinois, which costs $35 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 431 runners finished the 5k; the median finish was 35:38 and the winner ran 18:23.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 29:20, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here run 3 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- Church Street Brewing Company, Itasca, IL 60143.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on MapMyRun; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Join us for the LIVE Cheers to New Year's 5k run/walk! Say HELLO to 2026, New Year, New You!
This Race is FRIDAY - January 1st, 2027 at 10:00am
Join us on Live in person on Friday, January 1, 2027 at 10:00am for an exciting New Year themed event that features the amazing craft beer of Church Street Brewing Company! Whether you are looking to run, walk or just enjoy the beer this race is a sure thing for a great time and an incredible experience! This race is timed and scored by J3 Timing. Results will be posted at www.J3Timing.com.