Important Dates

Registration Opens: Thursday, February 1, 2024

Registration closes: 6pm Friday July 26, 2024- No race day registration this year

Packet Pick-up: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Event: Sunday, July 28, 2024

Packet Pickup
Packet pickup Saturday, July 27 from 2-4pm at Temperance Beer Co. 2000 West Dempster Street Evanston, Illinois 60202

If you can't make it to packet pick-up, you will be able to pick-up day of the event starting at 6am, but we highly encourage you to get your packet on Saturday to beat the crowds.

Choose Your Distance

All distances will adhere to the rules set up by the Open Water Lake Swimming Foundation. All races will take place off Dempster Beach in Evanston. 

Event Schedule

day of check-in 6-6:40am

safety talk 6:45am

first wave 7am

following waves will be sent in approximately 5 minutes apart with all the swimmers in the water by 7:30am.

All swimmers must complete their swim distance by 10am.

Awards

There will be no awards ceremony in 2024. Digital awards will be sent out after the event.

Race Course

The race course is a 1K GPS buoyed rectangle. Swimmers will start at the southwest corner and be directed clockwise, first heading northwest, then turning northeast before returning southeast and finally southwest, back to the starting area. Buoys will be placed at the corners and half way points.  

The 1K swimmers swim 1 loop, 2K swimmers 2 loops, and 4K swimmers 4 loops.

Event Pricing

  • 4K - $90

  • 2K - $80

  • 1K - $50

  • Registration closes at 6pm Friday July 26th. No same day registration in 2024.

What to Bring

Please remember to bring the following items: sunscreen, a baseball hat or equivalent to shade your face (not to swim in!), sweatshirt, sweatpants, wetsuit (optional), board shirt (this goes underneath the wetsuit to prevent chafing around the neck), Vaseline or BodyGlide (for under the arms, neck area), and of course goggles! Sorry, no pull buoys, hand paddles or fins.

Lake Conditions

Lake Michigan is a large body of water whose conditions can vary immensely. Great Lakes swim participants might swim in a mirror calm lake throughout--or confront four-foot waves with white caps. Your best options are to be prepared for possible rough spots, or to bow out gracefully if the conditions are beyond your experience. (We would rather you celebrate the beauty from the lakefront rather than drag you to shore dripping and dizzy.) Lake temperatures can also be challenging, varying from 54 degrees to 76 degrees Fahrenheit based on weather conditions. There will be swim suit and wet suit categories for each race. Should the lake temperatures drop overnight, “day of” changes will allow those interested to switch to the wet suit group. 

Safety

In collaboration with in collaboration with City of Evanston Parks and Recreation and the Evanston Fire Department, we will provide for water safety during the swim.  Lifeguards will be placed on land and water throughout the course. Fire, rescue, and first-aid staff will also be on site. 

Swim caps, color-coded for each distance category, are mandatory. Substitutes will be provided for swimmers who are allergic to latex.

Wetsuits

Wetsuits will not be available for rent. You can purchase your own before the race, either online or from local retailers like REI and Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

Cancellation Due to Conditions

If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston Aquatics Department, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed and the all funds have been spent by race day.