13 th Annual Casket Races
13th Annual 2025
Casket Races
Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
Members of the team Cicada Speedsters participate in the annual Forest Park Casket Races last year. ERICA BENSON
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Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
13 th Annual Casket Races
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13 th Annual Casket Races
Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
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‘Village of Cemeteries’ is dead serious about annual Casket Race taking place this Saturday ‘Pure joy,’ says Laurie Kokenes, Chamber leader By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter
Forest Park, where the dead outnumber the living 56 to one, sure feels alive when residents crowd Beloit Avenue each year to watch the annual Casket Races. The tradition, which has been carried on since 2012, involves different teams creating a “casket car” with four handles and wheels, four runners and one rider. “It’s a nod to our unique cemetery history and it adds to that fun vibe that Forest Park is so well known for,” said Laurie Kokenes, executive director of Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Develop-
ment, in an email statement to the Forest Park Review. “It brings the community together, celebrates art and creativity and it’s pure joy.” Kokenes said the event, which will be held the morning of Oct. 18, is one that Forest Park residents anticipate all year long. Many homeowners along Beloit Avenue hold Casket Race viewing parties in their homes. Vendors selling beverages, breakfast sandwiches and desserts also line the street. “It’s just plain fun,” Kokenes said. “See it once and you’ll be back every year, perhaps Continued on page 10
ERICA BENSON
Members of the team Dead Last in the annual Forest Park Casket Races in 2024.
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Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
13 th Annual Casket Races
In 30 years, we have • donated over $3.1 million • helped to establish the charitable endowment of the Foundation • created the Women Leaders Fund with the Community Foundation ERICA BENSON
• granted to 32 local agencies and services
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The Forest Park Police Department sprints for the finish line last year.
CASKET RACE from page 9
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as a participant. It’s a great time to chat with neighbors and meet some new ones.” Trophies handcrafted by Forest Park Arts Alliance artists are awarded at the end of the race for first, second and third place, as well as “dead last,” funniest casket, creepiest casket and best house party along the course. This will be Forest Park resident Ian
Pfaff ‘s fifth year participating in the race. He said his team, with the motto “all show, no go” consistently aims to win the award for creepiest casket. “(The casket is) typically way too heavy and way too big to be fast,” Pfaff said. “But we always make sure to come up with a new design each year and try to be bigger and crazier than the previous year.” Pfaff said his team enjoys encouraging crowd participation each year and seeing all of the “different personalities” of each casket. As for the team’s casket this year? Pfaff
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Cicada Speedsters (left), Christy Kutts of Chicago and Leah Textor of Oak Park, line up for the annual Casket Races last year.
Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
13 th Annual Casket Races
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Members of the team The British are Coming (left-right) John Lyons, Kristen Lyons, Teresa Molina Gonzalez, Brittany Tamal and Mark Ferraro prepare for their invasion.
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Crowds gather for the wake. said the plan “may or may not have something to do with a mind controlling alien from outer space.” “I love how many people show up,” Pfaff said. “I love how kind of just ridiculous it all is. I think it really captures the spirit of the community in a way that’s unique and fun and interesting, which is what I found Forest Park very much to be.” This year the races will begin at 11 a.m.
Prior to that, there will be vendors selling food and a parade of the caskets. After the race, there will be a kids and pets costume parade and trick or treating on Madison Street. “I love the creativity but mostly I get joy from the sea of smiling people all along the racecourse and the kids in costume all having a great day in Forest Park,” Kokenes said.
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Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
13 th Annual Casket Races
ERICA BENSON
Members of the Sloan Bus prepare to be flushed. Bystanders can’t believe their eyes. And contestants practice ‘safety before speed.’
ERICA BENSON
13 th Annual Casket Races
Forest Park Review, October 15, 2025
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