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Events

Fall Color 5K Run and Walk

Unearth your inner tree champion by taking on the Fall Color 5K Run and Walk.

Content Detail

Congratulations to all who participated in the Fall Color 5K Walk and Run!

View your on-site race results or virtual race results via Athlinks.

Participation includes free admission to the Arboretum on race day to explore 1,700 acres of living collections, natural areas, the award-winning Children’s Garden, and much more.

Event Highlights

Participants and spectators are invited to attend a postrace party with food trucks, live music, and a complimentary alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage.

All race participants receive a commemorative branded T-shirt.

Awards will be given to the top overall male, female, and nonbinary winners and the top three male, female, and nonbinary winners in each age division.

The USATF-certified Fall Color 5K course (IL6002NM) meets USATF standards for distance accuracy.

Virtual 5K

Support the Arboretum from afar by completing the Fall Color 5K race distance at a location and date of your choosing. Virtual 5K participants receive free general admission to the Arboretum to complete the race distance during the two weeks preceding the race.

Registration Details

All race participants must register in advance of race day.

All registration slots are sold out and registration is closed.

Race packets may be picked up in person free of charge or shipped to a home for an additional fee.

Registration costs for the virtual 5K remain the same throughout the registration period.

Thursday, August 1–Tuesday, September 17
Cost: $55
Member cost: $45

Wednesday, September 18–Thursday, October 24
Cost: $60
Member cost: $50

Friday, October 25
Cost: $70
Member cost: $60

Virtual 5K
Cost: $45
Member cost: $35

Fall Color Festival

The Fall Color 5K Run and Walk concludes the Fall Color Festival, a series of one-of-a-kind seasonal events at The Morton Arboretum.

 

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Registration Details

All registration slots are sold out and registration is closed.

Race packets may be picked up in person free of charge or shipped to a home for an additional fee. Participants in the virtual race will receive their race packets and apparel via mail, free of charge.

Thursday, August 1–Tuesday, September 17
Cost: $55
Member cost: $45

Wednesday, September 18–Thursday, October 24
Cost: $60
Member cost: $50

Friday, October 25
Cost: $70
Member cost: $60

Virtual 5K
Cost: $45
Member cost: $35

Arboretum members enjoy savings on registration for endurance events, special event ticket prices, and more. Access the best pricing for all endurance events at The Morton Arboretum by becoming a member today.

Virtual 5K

Support the Arboretum from afar by completing the Fall Color 5K race distance at a location and date of your choosing. Virtual participants receive free general admission to the Arboretum to complete the race distance during the two weeks preceding the race.

Virtual 5K participants will receive their race packets and race apparel via mail, free of charge. Each packet includes a Chronotrack race bib, safety pins, and a commemorative T-shirt.

Race results for virtual participants will be recorded in the Arboretum’s RunSignUp platform.

No matter when or where you run, you can support the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.

Race Packet Pickup and Mailing

Free race packet pickup in advance of race day is available at Dick Pond Athletics in Lisle. Dick Pond Athletics is located at 2775 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL. Packet pickup will be available during Dick Pond Athletic store hours from Friday, October 18, through Thursday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m.

Please note that packet pickup at Dick Pond Athletics will not be available on Friday, October 25.

Each race packet includes a Chronotrack race bib, safety pins, and race apparel.

For an additional fee, participants in the on-site race can choose to receive their race packet by mail or retrieve it in person on race day.

Participants in the virtual 5K will receive their race packets and apparel via mail free of charge.

Questions about registering for the 2024 Fall Color 5K? Contact races@mortonarb.org.

Race Day Information

Accordion List

  • Awards will be given to the top three overall male, female, and nonbinary finishers, as well as the top three male, female, and nonbinary finishers in the following age groups: 14 and under; 15 to 19; 20 to 24; 25 to 29; 30 to 34; 35 to 39; 40 to 44; 45 to 49; 50 to 54; 55 to 59; 60 to 64; 65 to 69; 70 to 74; 75 to 79; 80 and up.

    The top three overall finishers in each age group can pick up their awards at the Awards tent from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

    Overall male, female, and nonbinary winners do not qualify for a medal in their age bracket.

    The top three overall winners in the male, female, and nonbinary categories are determined by gun time. Age division winners are determined by chip time.

  • Children must be registered to participate in the race and receive a T-shirt. There is no separate youth registration fee or youth sizing of T-shirts. Registration is not required for children in strollers.

  • Gear check is available for free to race participants. Gear will be checked according to bib number. The Morton Arboretum is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Please do not check anything of value.

    Gear check will take place from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. on the Sycamore Room patio, near the Visitor Center.

  • Free parking is available on-site at The Morton Arboretum. Please allow plenty of time to park and walk from parking areas. Participants are encouraged to carpool.

  • Motorized vehicles, bicycles, roller skates, and pets are prohibited on the race course.

  • Spectators can cheer on friends and family at the start/finish line. Spectators receive free entry if they arrive prior to 9:00 a.m. Spectators arriving after 9:00 a.m. will need to purchase Arboretum general admission.

    Spectators are welcome to join participants at the postrace party and can enjoy the Arboretum grounds after the race.

  • Strollers are permitted. Participants pushing strollers must line up behind runners and walkers at the start line. Volunteers will direct participants with strollers where to line up.

  • Large digital clocks will be stationed throughout the course. Finish line times will also be displayed on digital clocks.

  • Granola bars, bananas, and Boxed Water will be provided at the finish line.

  • Portable restrooms will be available near the start line. Restrooms are also available inside the Visitor Center.

  • Do you have athletic shoes that you no longer need? The Morton Arboretum, in partnership with Dick Pond Athletics, will be accepting used athletic shoes for recycling and donating during packet pickup and on-site on race day. Visit the shoe recycling tent near the start/finish line on race day to drop off shoes. All shoes received during packet pickup and race day are donated to the Reuse-A-Shoe Program.

  • Cups of water will be available at the start line and at two stations on the course.

  • The race will take place rain or shine. In the case of an emergency, participants will be notified by 6:00 a.m. on race morning via email with event updates. Notifications will also be posted on the website and The Morton Arboretum’s Facebook page.

Postrace Party

Participants and spectators are invited to attend a postrace party with live music, on-site food trucks, and a complimentary alcoholic beverage from Bubblehouse Brewing or nonalcoholic beverage from Go Brewing. Afterward, feel free to spend the rest of the day at the Arboretum exploring 1,700 acres of living collections, natural areas, the award-winning Children’s Garden, and much more.

From 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Chicago Mule will perform covers of oldies, rock classics, and current pop hits.

Special seasonal concessions will be available to purchase at the Fall Color Festival concession tents in Arbor Court.

Spectators

Fall Color 5K Walk and Run spectators receive free admission to the Arboretum if they arrive before 9:00 a.m. on race day, Saturday, October 26. Spectators who arrive after 9:00 a.m. will need to purchase Arboretum general admission.

Spectators are invited to attend the postrace party to enjoy live music by Chicago Mule from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., food trucks, and a complimentary alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage.

Race Apparel

Included with registration is a commemorative T-shirt featuring The Morton Arboretum and Fall Color 5K Run and Walk logos.

Unisex Triblend T-Shirt
70% airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 15% polyester, 15% rayon

View or download PDF.

Race apparel items have a nontapered fit. Sizing is adult unisex. Please note that children’s sizing is not available.

Participants may opt out of receiving commemorative race apparel and dedicate their full registration cost to the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.

Shoe Recycling

Do you have athletic shoes that you no longer need? The Morton Arboretum, in partnership with Dick Pond Athletics, will be accepting used athletic shoes for recycling and donating during packet pickup and on-site on race day. Visit Dick Pond during packet pickup times before the race or the shoe recycling tent near the start/finish line on race day to drop off your pair.

The Morton Arboretum partners with the Reuse-A-Shoe Program to collect and distribute used athletic shoes.

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