Forest Park Annual Casket Race 2023

11 th Annual Casket Races

11th Annual 2023

Casket Races

Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

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Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

11 th Annual Casket Races

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Forest Park Casket Races!

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Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

11 th Annual Casket Races

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Casket races — embracing your inner ghoul

Get ready for the spookiest, quirkiest, and most exhilarating race of the season

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Whereas most American avoid thinking about death and spend as little time as possible in cemeteries, the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce has created a way to have fun with the subject and to use the fact of 800,000 dead people “residing” in our cemeteries as a way to promote the businesses in town. That’s a 50:1 ratio of the dead to the living.

According to Laurie Kokenes, the Cham-

ber’s Executive Director, the Casket Race draws 1,000 people to Forest Park and was first held in 2012.

“When we were planning the Chamber’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2012,” she recalled, “we decided it would be the perfect time to ‘unearth’ the Casket Race event.”

Trophies, custom made by members of the Arts Alliance, will be awarded to the first, second and third place finishers as well as the team that comes in “dead last” and for the most frightfully funny and the creepiest caskets.

Talking about fun, here’s the Chamber’s over-the-top promotional about the event scheduled for this Saturday: Get ready for the spookiest, quirkiest, and most exhilarating race of the year -the 11th Annual Forest Park Casket Races!

Filled with spine-tingling excitement, this annual event invites you to transform a

casket-shaped cart into a mobile masterpiece of macabre creativity. Picture it: a helmet-clad “ghost” braving the afterlife inside the casket while a team of fearless runners sprints along a hair-raising course through downtown Forest Park.

The Village of Forest Park welcomes the participants and fans of this year’s Casket Races!

But here’s the best part — it’s not just about winning; it’s about embracing your inner ghoul and reveling in the fun. So, assemble your spooky squad, unleash your inner undertaker, and join us for a race that’s to die for!

Mayor Rory Hoskins

Commisssioner Maria Maxham Commissioner Ryan Nero

Commisssioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin

Commissioner Maria Maxham

Commisssioner Commisssioner Voogd Ryan Nero Joe ByrnesJessicaCommissioner Commissioner Jessica Voogd

517 Desplaines Avenue • Forest Park, IL 60130 • 708-366-2323 • contact@forestpark.net

517 Desplaines Avenue • Forest Park, IL 60130 • 708-366-2323 • Fax 708-488-0361

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Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

11 th Annual Casket Races

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Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

11 th Annual Casket Races

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Here’s the rundown Casket Races

The Schedule

Saturday, Oct. 21 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Beloit and Madison in downtown Forest Park

■ 9:30 a.m. Local vendors/food and beverage (Brown Cow, Kribi, Twisted Cookie and more) ■ 10:30 a.m. Parade of Casket

The Races ■ Uniquely designed ‘casket cars’ (not all re-

■ 11:00 a.m. Races

semble a casket). 4 handles, 4 wheels, 1 rider and 4 runners.

■ Noon Kid’s and pet’s costume parade before

■ It’s the runners’ job to push their vehicle to the

■ 12:30 p.m. Final Heats and Trophies

finish line as fast as they can.

final heats

■ 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Trick or Treat on Madison

■ Teams runs twice to get their best time – top

4 race teams race to determine first, second and third places. There’s a trophy for “dead last,” too.

■ Residents along the racecourse are happy to lend the street for the race. Many of them have house parties and we give a trophy to the best house party.

■ Radio’s own Bonnie Greene has been the em-

cee since the first race

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Services

Senior Care Home Health Care Hospice Info Heart Disease Social Security Services Services Services Village Departments Services Senior Care Senior Care Senior Care Park District Programs HomeCare Health Care Senior Home Health Care Home Health Flu Shots Home Health Care Care Cook County Sheriff’s Dept.

Hospice Info Provided by Walgreens Hospice InfoInfo Hospice Info Heart Disease Hospice State’s Attorney Heart Disease Social Security Heart Disease Treasurer’s Office (Cash Dash) Heart Disease Social Security Village Departments Covid Shots & Boosters Social Security Village Departments Park District Programs Secretary of State Social Security Shingles Shots Park District Programs Village Departments Flu Shots Cook County Sheriff’s Dept.

FluProvided Shots Renewal

by Walgreens Cook County Sheriff’s Dept. Drivers License Village Departments Pneumonia Shots Park District Programs State’s Attorney Provided by Walgreens State’s Attorney Real ID /Flu License (by Appt.)

Provided by Walmart Forest Park Shots Treasurer’s Office (Cash Dash) Cook County Sheriff’s Dept.

Park District Programs Covid Shots & Boosters Treasurer’s Office (Cash Dash) Covid Shots & Boosters Provided

by Walgreens Secretary of State Shingles Shots State’s Attorney Secretary of State Sheriff’s Dept.

Cook County Shingles Shots Testing & Exams Drivers License Renewal Pneumonia Shots License Renewal Provided by Walgreens Treasurer’sDrivers Office (Cash Dash) Pneumonia Shots Real ID / License (by Appt.)

Blood Pressure Covid Shots & Boosters Provided

by Walmart State’s Real ID / Attorney License (by Appt.)

Provided

by Walmart ForestForest Park Park SecretaryTreasurer’s of State Cataract Shingles Shots Office (Cash Dash) Testing & Exams Testing & Exams Covid Shots & Boosters Drivers License Renewal Glaucoma Pneumonia Shots Blood Pressure Blood Pressure Real ID /Secretary License (byof Appt.)

State Lasik Cataract Provided

by Walmart Forest Park ShotsScreening Shingles Cataract Glaucoma Balance Testing Drivers License Renewal Glaucoma

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Flu Shots

10:00 AM to 10:00 10:00AM AM Pneumonia Shots LasikLasik Screening Screening 1:00 PM Testing & Exams Real ID to/ toLicense (by Appt.)

Balance Testing Balance Testing Provided by Walmart Forest Park 1:00 1:00PM PM

10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Call Center for Transportation Bloodthe Pressure

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Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

11 th Annual Casket Races

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WeConnect

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11 th Annual Casket Races

A full day on Madison Street Eating:

Shopping:

■ Eating is an all-day affair in FP

■ A unique mix of independently

owned shops ■ Air roasted coffee at Kribi

(Illinois Maker Award Winner)

■ Team Blonde — eco friendly/

socially conscious gifts ■ Breakfast at Louie’s Grill — old

fashioned diner

■ Accents by Fred — a favorite

for handmade gifts ■ Lunch at O’Sullivan’s — great

outdoor beer garden

■ Centuries and Sleuths — history

mystery bookstore ■ Dinner at Caffe DeLuca or Fiore

Pizzeria and Bakery ■ Cocktails at Duffy’s Tavern — a true

neighborhood bar ■ Dessert at Brown Cow or

Twisted Cookie

■ Todd and Holland — tea merchant

Events and Classes: ■ Foundry FP — boutique event space ■ Table and Lain — cooking classes

Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

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Forest Park Review, October 18, 2023

28th Anniversary Special

ed since 1995

11 th Annual Casket Races

$28 pre-fixe 3 course dinner October 24 - 26th Reservations recommended. Go to our website to make yours today!

814 North Boulevard • 708-848-3434 • www.cucinaoakpark.com

Family owned and operated since 1995