CHIditarod Shopping Cart Race Inspires Hundreds for a Good Cause: "The Vibes Are So Good"
On Saturday afternoon, Abby Shure was not expecting to see a giant hot dog from the window of her West Town home.
What she found was the "CHIditidogs," an enormous, mobile hot dog stand fashioned from four shopping carts, wood, duct tape, and staples.
She also noticed several other shopping cart creations lined up outside Output Lounge & Sports Bar on West Grand Avenue. Among them was a pirate ship featuring a miniature plank made not for walking, but for drinking, as there were several built-in shot glasses.
Shure found herself in the middle of the 20th annual "CHIditarod," a 5-mile shopping cart race and food drive that also doubles as a costume contest and parade. At half past noon, hundreds of "mushers" took off from the starting line at the Cobra Lounge on North Ashland Avenue, hauling their elaborate carts around West Town and Ukrainian Village.
The Mission Behind the Madness
The name CHIditarod is a play on the Alaskan Iditarod sled dog race. CHIditarod organizers have collected more than 280,000 pounds of food and $1 million in direct donations to fight food insecurity. This year, event organizers hope to add about 10,000 pounds of food and $150,000 to that total. The 2025 beneficiary is the Nourishing Hope hunger relief organization, which was at Saturday’s event, collecting food donations from participating teams.
The mission of the race is to not only combat hunger in the Chicago area but to inspire creative expression, said Devin Breen, co-founder of the CHIditarod.
"What you have here is a whole bunch of our Chicago neighbors, but a lot of them are self-declared non-artists who have realized that they have creative potential," Breen said. "And some of these teams have been coming back for 19 years."
A Fun and Frivolous Affair
Luellwitz, a previous winner of best art cart, aid his team’s goal is to get a reaction from bystanders.
"When we’re walking down the street and we see someone do a double-take, that’s really the effect we’re going for," he said. "We had a dog do a double-take a couple years ago. Just seeing that and the look on the children’s faces, that’s what we really do this for."
The little, fragile hot dog truck is not exactly built for speed.
"We’ll be coming in last," Luellwitz said, laughing. "We usually don’t finish at all."
A Community-Driven Event
The event has inspired many to join in on the fun. Jarrod Warf, 37, of Wicker Park, watched the participants from the window of Midwest Coast Brewing Co. on West Walnut Street.
"It’s a fun way to spend the day with friends," he said. "I like seeing all the little parts and costumes and everything. It’s almost like a Halloween vibe."
He and his pals were impressed enough to consider entering next year.
"We’ve been talking about it all day," he said. "But what would be our team name and theme?"
"We’re still brainstorming," he said.
Conclusion
The CHIditarod is a unique and entertaining event that brings together the community to combat hunger and inspire creative expression. With its blend of fun, creativity, and philanthropy, it’s no wonder that hundreds of people participate every year. As Abby Shure said, "It looks like so much fun. It’s very cold, and that hasn’t stopped all of these people from being a part of it and from having a good time. The vibes are so good. Why wouldn’t I help support it?"
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the CHIditarod?
A: The CHIditarod is a 5-mile shopping cart race and food drive that also doubles as a costume contest and parade.
Q: What is the purpose of the event?
A: The event is to combat hunger in the Chicago area and to inspire creative expression.
Q: How much food and money has the CHIditarod collected over the years?
A: The CHIditarod has collected more than 280,000 pounds of food and $1 million in direct donations.
Q: Who is the 2025 beneficiary of the CHIditarod?
A: The 2025 beneficiary is the Nourishing Hope hunger relief organization.
