Greektown Chicago hosts a special cheer station for the 2024 Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 13 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the corner of Gladys and Halsted Streets, celebrating the ancient Greek origins of the marathon.
Spectators can enjoy a sign-making station, complimentary coffee and sweet treats, free Greektown cowbells to cheer on the runners, and DJ Yianni playing Greek and American music all day to keep the energy flowing. Visitors are encouraged to grab a bite to eat in Greektown during or after the event at one of the neighborhood’s authentic family-owned Greek restaurants.
This year’s Chicago Marathon passes through Greektown twice, at Miles 14 and 17, giving viewers two chances to support their favorite runners. For more information on the Greektown Chicago marathon event, visit GreektownChicago.org.
The modern marathon was inspired by the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield near the town of Marathon, Greece to Athens in 490 B.C. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the badly outnumbered Greeks had managed to defeat the invading Persians, and a messenger was sent running approximately 25 miles to the Acropolis in Athens to deliver the good news. Pheidippides delivered his message of “Nike!” (Victory!) then collapsed from exhaustion on the spot and died.
About Greektown Chicago
Greektown is a dining, nightlife and cultural district located in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop area. A popular destination for tourists and residents alike, Greektown offers the best sampling of Greek heritage outside of Athens—from authentic restaurants, cafes and shops to the National Hellenic Museum and annual Taste of Greektown festival. Greektown Special Service Area #16 is the business improvement district for the neighborhood, administered by sole service provider the West Central Association and guided by a volunteer commission of local business owners, property owners and residents. For more information, visit GreektownChicago.org.