Fishing Derby

Kids can compete in the annual Fishing Derby in McKinley Park, slated for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the McKinley Park lagoon, 2210 W. Pershing Road, Chicago. Open to children ages 7 to 13, the derby will offer prizes for catching fish, which the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will stock heavily in the lagoon shortly before the derby.

The event is sponsored in part by local attorney Steve Demitro, and there is no cost to participate in the derby. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles, tackle and bait; a limited number will be available to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information and to register.