Chiditarod Registration Begins Tomorrow

By Amy Cavanaugh in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 14, 2012 9:00PM

If you've never done the Chiditarod—the madcap shopping cart race through the streets of Chicago that benefits the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation—now's your chance. Registration for the seventh annual event, which will be held March 3, begins tomorrow.

The Chiditarod, which is held the same day the Alaskan Iditarod starts, replaces sleds with shopping carts. 150 teams of five people wear costumes, decorate carts, and compete to arrive first at the finish line with their cart full of food to donate.

Want to sign up? Round up four pals and register on the Chiditarod website anytime between tomorrow and February 18. Registration is cheaper the earlier you sign up, (it’s $45 from January 15-28, and increases to $55 on January 29 and $65 on February 12), so when you’re out tonight, make your usually noncommittal friends agree to do it.

If you’re a designer, enter the Chiditarod Design Contest and create the logo for this year’s event to win free registration and prizes. The deadline is January 23, and there are more details here.