2026 Back Road Derby Drive
Name:
2026 Back Road Derby Drive
Date:
May 9, 2026
Time:
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM CDT
Registration:
Sorry, public registration for this event has been closed.
Event Description:
Do you have a street legal golf cart or UTV?
We are looking for people with golf carts or UTVs who want to have some fun!
The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to introduce a brand-new event the Back Road Derby Drive designed to bring our community together, collect food donations for Rooted for Good, and raise funds to support our free community events like Waddle on the Riverbank featuring the Great Genoa Duck Race, Celebrate the Season, and to bring Santa Claus to town throughout the month of December.
What is the Back Road Derby Drive?
It’s two events in one! Participants with street legal golf carts or UTVs are invited to decorate their vehicle, dress to match their theme, and pick a song to show off their style!
Drivers will parade along a back road block while the community cheers them on from the sidelines. A panel of judges will select the top 10 finalists based on creativity, theme, decoration and crowd appeal. The finalists will then drive individually through the Vet's Club parking lot where one of our community’s most creative and entertaining rides will take home the title Champion of the Back Roads for the year. The top 6 will be selected and be offered a VIP spot in the Genoa Day’s Parade! Once the parade competition wraps up, the excitement continues as the top 6 vehicles also get to compete in the Genoa Derby!
How will we have the Genoa Derby?
The chosen 6 golf carts or UTV's will be the jockeys with their carts. Jumbo dice will be rolled to see which jockey can get to the finish line first! Spectators can “bet” by purchasing raffle tickets and placing them in the bucket of the jockey they think will win the race. A ticket is drawn from the winning jockey's bucket, the holder of that ticket wins a cash prize!
Come out and help us create a brand-new Genoa tradition!
Event Media:
Event Sponsors:
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Location:
The start and end of the parade is at the Genoa Veterans Club at 311 S. Washington Street, Genoa, IL
Date/Time Information:
May 9, 2026 beginning at 1pm.
Contact Information:
Kristen Johnson
Fees/Admission:
To enter your golf cart or UTV you need to register and let us know your theme song. You will need to bring canned or boxed goods for the Genoa Food Hub Rooted for Good.
This is a FREE Community Event to watch the parade and participate in the first ever GK Derby!
Who do you think will win the race?
This is a FREE Community Event to watch the parade and participate in the first ever GK Derby!
Who do you think will win the race?
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