Chicago Week Ahead: October 5–11, 2026 — Holidays, School, Trash, Transit and Marathon Closures

Planning window: Monday, October 5, through Sunday, October 11, 2026. Information checked October 2, 2026, Central Time. There is no federal, Illinois state, or City of Chicago holiday during this seven-day window. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) lists regular classes for Monday through Friday, October 5–9. The main citywide travel issue is the Abbott Chicago 5K on Saturday, October 10, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11. Both bring confirmed downtown street closures; the marathon course affects streets across multiple neighborhoods.

At a glance: dates that affect residents

Holidays, school schedule and public-service hours

Holiday check: The Office of Personnel Management, Illinois, and the City of Chicago list Columbus Day on Monday, October 12—not during October 5–11. The City Clerk lists its offices as open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Its posted 2026 special-closure list names October 12. These are the Clerk’s hours; they do not establish the counter hours of every City department. For a specific service, use that department’s current contact page before traveling. City Clerk hours and special closings, Illinois state holidays, and the 2026 federal holiday schedule show the dates used here.

CPS: The 2026–27 family calendar marks October 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as regular student days. It marks Monday, October 12, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a district holiday. CPS notes that school-specific calendars may include additional events, so a family should still check the relevant school’s site or message system. The calendar is for CPS elementary and high schools; it does not automatically establish schedules for every private, parochial, charter or suburban school. CPS 2026–27 family calendar.

One near-term family deadline is Thursday, October 15: CPS recently reminded families that required vaccinations and physical examinations are due by that date. If a student’s records are incomplete, contact the school or health-care provider this week rather than assuming the October 12 closure gives extra time. CPS’s September 18 family update gives the reminder.

Garbage and recycling: no holiday shift falls inside Oct. 5–11

The City’s holiday list places Columbus Day on October 12, one day after this guide ends. No City-listed holiday falls Monday through Sunday, October 5–11, so there is no holiday-based citywide collection shift to plan for during this week. Chicago describes residential garbage pickup as weekly, Monday through Friday; recycling service days vary by address and blue-cart schedule. Keep using your usual service day, but verify the address-specific calendar if you recently moved, use a Blue Cart, or are not sure which week applies. The City recommends service-day reminders because holiday-week service can vary. If a cart is missed, submit a CHI 311 request or call 311; do not use the holiday calendar to guess a new pickup date. The City’s Holiday Garbage Schedule, residential recycling information, and missed-pickup instructions are the controlling references.

Transportation: the two race days to plan around

Saturday, October 10: Abbott Chicago 5K

The 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. downtown. The event organizer lists street closures from 6:30–9:30 a.m. on Ida B. Wells Drive between Columbus Drive and Michigan Avenue; Congress Plaza Drive; Michigan Avenue between Ida B. Wells and Balbo; Harrison, State, Franklin and Van Buren segments; and portions of Wacker Drive. Jackson Boulevard between Wacker and Franklin and Wacker Drive between Adams and Van Buren are listed closed from 5–11 a.m. No-parking restrictions on the listed streets start at 1 a.m. Vehicles left in posted zones may be ticketed and towed. Michigan Avenue north of Ida B. Wells is listed to remain open. If you park downtown, read the block-by-block notice and posted signs rather than relying on the general hours; closures may lift as runners pass. Abbott Chicago 5K street-closure notice.

The free, public Abbott Health & Fitness Expo also runs at McCormick Place, North Building, Hall B1: Thursday, October 8, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday, October 9, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; and Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Expect event visitors around the venue. The marathon organizer says times can change, so confirm before setting out. Expo and race-weekend schedule.

Sunday, October 11: Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 11. The organizer’s current street-closure plan says course streets close to traffic from 6 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m.; access to nearby streets may also be affected. The route runs from Grant Park through downtown and multiple neighborhoods, so the impact extends well beyond the Loop. No-parking zones along the course are enforced from 1 a.m. Vehicles not moved from a signed no-parking zone can be ticketed and towed. Grant Park setup closures begin earlier: several listed segments close Thursday, October 8, at 4 a.m., including parts of Balbo Drive, Jackson Drive, Columbus Drive, Congress Plaza Drive and Ida B. Wells Drive; some reopen Sunday evening, while others remain closed until Monday, October 12. Check the map and segment table if you live, work, park or have an appointment near Grant Park or the course. The organizer warns that City decisions can change closure plans. Marathon course and Grant Park closure details.

For drivers, the organizer says the Kennedy Expressway’s Adams Street exit ramp will be closed on race day; the named expressway lanes are otherwise scheduled to remain open. Clark Street between Lake and Adams is scheduled to run two-way from about 6 a.m. to noon to help Loop traffic exit. That temporary routing is not a reason to drive into the course area: allow extra time, follow police directions and use the organizer’s available-route map. Spectators should plan transit or a meeting point away from the restricted start and finish areas. People visiting the downtown Northwestern Medical Campus should check the organizer’s specific access guidance and the medical facility’s own instructions.

CTA, Metra, Pace and Amtrak: what is confirmed

CTA: As of October 2, the CTA’s weekly weekday page was still showing its September 28–October 2 update, so a full route-by-route summary for October 5–11 was not yet available in that weekly view. Some longer-running changes are already confirmed: 63rd-bound Green Line trains bypass 43rd through October 16; CTA directs riders to use Indiana or 47th and transfer. Routes #J14 and #15 have a posted construction reroute through October 26, as does #75. A #73 reroute is listed through 5 p.m. Monday, October 5. These affect different parts of the South Side and are separate from marathon-day event reroutes. Check your route again on the travel day, especially on October 10–11, using the CTA system alerts and weekly service changes. Do not assume a bus route through the course will keep its usual stops.

Metra and Pace: No special 2026 Metra marathon timetable or route-specific Pace fixed-route detour could be confirmed in the notices reviewed by October 2. That is a limit of the currently published information, not a guarantee of normal service. Metra passengers should check the train and station status for their exact departure; Pace riders should check their route alerts. Pace’s ADA advisory lists the October 11 marathon among large Chicago events that may mean temporary closures, heavy traffic and delayed paratransit pickups. Paratransit riders traveling to or from the course area should confirm the trip and allow a buffer through Pace TripCheck or customer service.

Amtrak: Amtrak’s service-alert page lists “Saluki Service Adjustments” from October 5 through October 30. The alert title confirms a change window but does not, in the summary reviewed here, identify which individual departures change. Anyone holding a Saluki ticket should check the train number and itinerary in Amtrak’s current timetable or reservation before leaving; this article does not infer a cancellation or replacement time. Amtrak service alerts and notices.

One public meeting during the week

The Chicago Board of Education’s Finance and Audit Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday, October 8, at 12:30 p.m. at the CPS Loop Office, 42 W. Madison St., Garden Level. The Operations Committee is listed for 3:30 p.m. Advance registration for speakers and observers opens Tuesday, October 6, at 10:30 a.m.; speaker registration for Finance and Audit closes Wednesday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. The Board says the meeting will be livestreamed. Check the meeting page for the agenda, any updated participation details and the current location before attending. Finance and Audit Committee meeting information.

Practical checklist before leaving home

• For school: confirm your child’s own school calendar for Oct. 5–9 and arrange care for Monday, Oct. 12, if needed; that CPS closure is outside this week.
• For City services: a City Clerk counter visit can be planned for a weekday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; call or check the specific department for other services. Avoid scheduling a Clerk visit on Oct. 12.
• For trash and recycling: use your usual address-specific collection day; do not shift it based on the following Monday’s holiday without a current City notice.
• For downtown on Oct. 10–11: move any vehicle from posted no-parking streets by the stated deadline; check the exact closure map; select a route that avoids the course and confirm CTA alerts before boarding.
• For rail or paratransit: recheck the booked train, route or trip status on the day. If the operator has not published a change detail, treat the schedule as unresolved rather than assuming a normal trip.

The clearest success test is practical: you know whether your school or counter is open, your pickup day, the closure window on your block, and a current route or backup for any trip downtown. Road reopening estimates, transit detours and individual branch hours can change; recheck the linked operator or department notice before travel, particularly late Saturday and early Sunday.