Chicago River Day
34th Annual Chicago River Day
May 9, 2026
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. ~ After Parties from 12 - 3 p.m.
80+ sites across the Chicago-Calumet River system
Registration opens March 24th!
Free and Family-Friendly
Sponsor Chicago River Day
River Day FAQs
Check out this Photo Recap of 2025
Every year since 1992, Friends of the Chicago River partners with community leaders, municipalities, and landowners to host our largest volunteer stewardship day of the year, Chicago River Day. Volunteers build community and improve our rivers and public spaces by cleaning up harmful litter, mulching trails, and removing invasive plants. At this watershed-wide cleanup, thousands of community members, families, and companies work in and along the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system at over 80 locations throughout the city and suburbs. After the event, volunteers come together to swap stories and celebrate their hard work at after parties at Burning Bush Brewery and the Ford Calumet Environmental Center at Big Marsh Park.
How to Register:
Every participant must register individually, as you are agreeing to the required waivers for the site as a part of registration. Registration is open until the site is full. Register by May 1, 2026 to help us understand the supply needs for each location and ensure we have enough of our famous T-shirts. Volunteers who register after May 1 need to show proof of registration (email confirmation or printed ticket) the morning of the event and are not guaranteed a T-shirt, though we do our best to make sure all volunteers receive one. We do our best to accommodate walk-up volunteers, though space is limited, especially at on-the-water locations. Anyone under 18 requires a guardian to sign them up. For more information Check out Chicago River Day FAQs here. Additional sites are added as they are confirmed.
How to Register:
- Use your mouse or the +/- buttons at the bottom of the map to zoom into the part of the watershed where you would like to volunteer.
OR Click on the arrow at the upper left of the map to see sites listed alphabetically. - Look for a green or blue pin. Green pins are for on land cleanups, blue pins are on the water, meaning you will be cleaning from canoe or kayak. Orange pins are sites where registration is full. Yellow pins are adopted by a group.
- Click on the pin and use the link within it to register for that Chicago River Day site.
Featured River Animal
Every year we feature a river animal to help us connect to the animals who rely on us to care for and protect this important river system. The 2026 featured animal is the Virile Crayfish.
The Virile Crayfish is one of four crayfish species native to the Chicago region, and is the most common of the 23 crayfish native to Illinois. They vary in color, ranging from light to olive to dark brown and generally grow to about 5 inches long. They live along the banks of rocky creeks and rivers, making them one of the species directly benefiting from our In-stream planting projects. The river’s health has rebounded significantly since 1979 when Friends started, making a more welcoming habitat for these amazing creatures. Our Chicago River Schools Network has crayfish curriculum available here.
Here are a few of the many fantastic stories about Chicago River Day 2025 in our local media:
WGN News - May 9
WGN News – Chicago River Cleanup Record Volunteers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rlv3q6fEKc
FOX 32 - Chicago River Day - Less Trash More Wildlife
CBS 2 - Chicago River Day 2025
Chicago Star - Clean the river, clean the banks: Volunteer for Chicago River Day
While there is much to celebrate about the river’s renaissance over the past 40 years, litter continues to be a persistent problem, especially in the form of plastics from food and product packaging. Chicago River Day is the flagship event for Friends’ Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River initiative which is dedicated to reducing and eliminating litter in and along our river system through public policy and on the ground action. Interested in helping clean up throughout the year? Check out other Litter Free opportunities here.
Sponsorship
Friends of the Chicago River invites you to sponsor this cherished watershed-wide community cleanup.
Your sponsorship support allows Chicago River Day to be free and accessible for everyone, ensuring all volunteers have the support and supplies for a successful cleanup. Find more details on sponsorships in the package below. To learn more or to submit your sponsor commitment form, call or email Becky Lyons at (312) 939-0490, ext 23, or blyons@chicagoriver.org.
Thank you to our 2026 Chicago River Day Sponsors!
This event is affiliated with Chicago Water Week, presented by Current.
Find other Chicago Water Week events here.
