Chicago Prepares for Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle This Sunday

CHICAGO, Ill. — The 2025 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is just hours away, with thousands of participants set to run through Grant Park on Sunday morning. The race officially starts at 8:30 a.m., but street closures are already in effect as event organizers finalize preparations.

Grant Park is closed to all vehicle traffic until approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday, with closures following a ‘rolling pattern’ as participants finish the race, according to event organizers who are working closely with the Chicago Police Department. This approach is designed to reopen streets as soon as the last runner passes.

“We want to ensure both safety and accessibility for participants and residents,” said a spokesperson for the event. “The rolling closure will help minimize disruptions while keeping our runners safe.”

The following street closures are in effect: Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, which is anticipated to reopen on March 26; Columbus Drive from Ida B. Wells Drive to Roosevelt Road will reopen at 2 p.m. on March 23; and Jackson Boulevard from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive will reopen at 1 p.m. on race day.

Packet pickup for participants will be held at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park on March 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on March 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are reminded to collect their event bib number, participant bag, and related materials during these times.

On race day, organizers encourage participants to take public transportation due to the numerous street closures. Parking will be limited, and many roads in the vicinity will not be accessible.

Those running will be assigned to one of eight start corrals based on their expected finish times. Participants can check their start corrals by logging into their participant accounts, and requests to run with friends or teammates can be accommodated if everyone registers with similar estimated finish times.

The race, which is one of Chicago’s iconic events, promises a festive atmosphere filled with music and community spirit as thousands of runners and walkers hit the streets. Wave 1 will commence at 8:30 a.m., with subsequent waves following based on the assigned start times.

For more information on the race, including the full list of street closures, participants can visit the Shamrock Shuffle official website. NBC Chicago will provide a live feed of the race beginning at 8:20 a.m. on Sunday.