Thousands gather in Grant Park for annual hot chocolate run

Thousands of participants gathered in Grant Park on Sunday morning to take part in the SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run. Runners and walkers tackled 5K, 10K, 15K, and two-mile routes that stretched from near the Art Institute south along the lakefront. Organizers scheduled the main races to begin at 7:30 a.m., with the two-mile walk following at approximately 9:15 a.m. to accommodate all fitness levels.

Participants followed a course featuring major downtown landmarks and scenic lakefront views before returning to Butler Field inside Grant Park. The route took competitors past Maggie Daley Park, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and further south toward McCormick Place and Soldier Field before looping back toward the city center. Traffic control officers managed temporary street closures along the path to accommodate the massive crowd of registered athletes.

The finish line greeted exhausted participants with a post-race celebration centered around warm cups of hot chocolate, fondue, and various sweet dipping treats. Ghirardelli served as the presenting sponsor for the event, supplying chocolate rewards and themed merchandise for every finisher who crossed the mats. Organizers opened the post-race party area early in the morning to handle the rapid influx of hungry runners arriving from the course.

Local sports enthusiasts and visitors have established the gathering as a major fixture of the city's fall calendar over many years. The event draws tens of thousands of athletes of all fitness levels who come out for the unique combination of a challenging urban course and dessert-themed rewards. City officials and event staff coordinated safety logistics to ensure the massive gathering wrapped up cleanly by noon when the post-race party officially concluded at Butler Field.