Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival
Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival is a running race on August 8, 2026 in Downers Grove, IL, with an entry fee of $25.
- Date
- August 8, 2026 (16 days to go)
- Price
- $25
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival is an annual event hosted in downtown Downers Grove to raise money/awareness for mental health and to honor the life of Ben Silver.
The event consists of a little kids' 100-meter dash followed by two chip-timed, one-mile road races for runners and walkers. Prices will increase to $25 for the open and elite miles after July 8th. The little kids' 100-meter dash is free.
We will again have T-shirts, but you must select if you would like one during your registration process (they are $10 each). You must register by July 22 to get a T-shirt.
The community festival consists of live music, concessions, raffles, mental-health booths, fitness booths, art booths, kids activities, a food truck (snow cones & shaved ice), and corn hole. The community festival is FREE to attend. Ben's Memorial Mile is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all proceeds are donated to mental-health foundations.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
84°
Typical Low
61°
Based on US Climate Normals data from Lisle-Morton Arboretum, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Downers Grove, IL
Population
49,867
as of 2023
City Elevation
747 ft
Nearest Airport
MDW
Chicago Midway International Airport · 14 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
16
Days to train
- Race
- Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival
- Date
- August 8, 2026
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
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Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Downers Grove than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to Downers GroveFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival
Aug 8, 2026