Racing Coffins Down Beloit Avenue: Forest Park's Casket Races Never Disappoint

October 25, 20265 min readActive Chicagoland

A Star Wars-themed casket with Obi-Wan, a Stormtrooper, and Princess Leia pushing it down Beloit Avenue, the words STAR WARS painted on the side

Some towns celebrate fall with a hayride. Forest Park races coffins.

On Saturday, October 24, thousands of costumed spectators lined Beloit Avenue for the 14th annual Forest Park Casket Races. Teams spent weeks building "caskets" on wheels, put one rider inside, and sprinted them down the course while the crowd screamed, laughed, and waved. We were there with a camera, and it's every bit as wholesome and ridiculous as it sounds.

A dense crowd lining both sides of Beloit Avenue, watching a casket team race down the street under fall trees — Beloit Avenue, packed curb to curb, with phones and real cameras out for every heat.

Why Coffins? Why Forest Park?

Forest Park is famous for its cemeteries — it's often said the village has more residents underground than above it. Instead of being spooked by that reputation, Forest Park embraced it, and the result is a tradition that's equal parts Halloween parade, soapbox derby, and block party.

How It Works

The course: Beloit Avenue, between Madison and Adams Streets
The teams: A crew of runners pushes, with one rider inside the casket
The parade: A Parade of Caskets kicks things off before the racing starts
The heats:Teams race in rounds, with a kids' and pets' costume parade in between
The prizes:Trophies for fastest, creepiest, and funniest, plus the beloved "Dead Last" award
The finale: Trick-or-treating on Madison Street in the afternoon

This Year's Lineup

⚓ The Shipwreck.A skeleton perched in a crow's nest, a palm tree hung with skulls, and a mermaid lounging in the casket while a sailor, a scuba diver, and a pirate crew pushed. Easily the most elaborate build we saw all day.

A shipwreck-themed casket with a palm tree, hanging skulls, and a mermaid rider, pushed by a pirate crew

📚 Forest Park Public Library's Minions and Gru. It had to be the library. A team in blue overalls and goggles pushed a red bookshelf casket packed with real books, Gru riding in the middle waving both arms to the crowd. The library shows up constantly in our own directory for its adult programs — turns out it also knows how to build a racing coffin.

A team in yellow and blue Minion costumes pushing a red bookshelf-shaped casket with a Gru rider waving

🐶 Inflatable Dogs.A pack of giant inflatable puppies — a husky, a golden, and a very smiley tan pup — waddled down the street behind a black casket. It's nearly impossible to run in an inflatable suit, and that's exactly why the crowd loved it.

A team in giant inflatable dog costumes — a husky, a golden retriever, and a tan pup — pushing a black casket

🚂 D91 Schools Rock.Forest Park's school district built a bright red, blue, and yellow train casket, pushed by a crew in matching caps and red bandanas.

A crew in red bandanas and caps pushing a train-shaped casket painted in red, blue, and yellow reading D91 Schools Rock

😊 Mental Health Matters. One of the most colorful entries was an Inside Out-themed crew — Joy in a blue wig, Envy in green, Anger with a shock of orange hair and boxing gloves — pushing a purple casket painted "Mental Health Matters." A genuinely sweet message tucked inside a very silly race.

A crew dressed as Inside Out characters Joy, Envy, and Anger pushing a purple casket painted Mental Health Matters

The Costume Parade Steals the Show

Between heats, the kids' and pets' costume parade takes over the street. Our favorite: a sleek greyhound in a shimmering purple dragon costume, working the crowd like it knew exactly how good it looked.

A greyhound dressed in an iridescent purple dragon costume standing in the street, with a photographer holding a large camera in the foreground — Plenty of spectators, including more than a few serious cameras, were out capturing every moment.

Why Seniors Love This Event

It's free. No tickets, no registration, just show up and watch.
It's short and sweet.The whole thing runs about three hours on a Saturday morning, so you're home by lunch or on Madison Street for trick-or-treating.
It's great with grandkids. They get candy and costumes; you get a front-row seat to the laughs.
Anyone can race.It's neighbors and local organizations pushing these caskets, not professional athletes — a church group, a walking club, or a senior center could absolutely enter a team.
Your library is in on the fun.The Forest Park Public Library doesn't just run book clubs, genealogy help, and tax prep — once a year, it builds a racing coffin.

Tips for Next Year

Arrive early. The curb fills fast — bring a folding chair and claim a spot along Beloit Avenue before the morning parade.
Dress in layers. Late October mornings start chilly.
Parking:use the public lots off Madison Street, following the blue "P" signs.
Bring a bag for candy if grandkids are coming — trick-or-treating on Madison Street starts right after the races.
Think about entering a team. Your walking club or senior center could build a casket. Contact the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce for details.

See You Next October

Forest Park takes its cemeteries seriously, and its fun even more seriously. If you've never seen a mermaid race down a suburban street in a coffin, put the Casket Races on your 2027 calendar now.