Fishing Derby
Kids and teens can compete in the annual Fishing Derby in McKinley Park, slated for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the McKinley Park lagoon, 2210 W. Pershing Road, Chicago.
Open to children ages 7 to 16, 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.
Check-in time is at 8:30 a.m., and the derby starts at 9 a.m. Online advance registration is required: Click here for more information and to register.
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.
