New Lenox, Illinois • October 24–25, 2026
Four Poodle shows in two days: the Great Lakes Poodle Club of Chicago hosts its 98th through 101st specialty shows October 24–25 in New Lenox, Illinois — with the milestone 100th show Sunday morning.
Planning your show season? Create your free ThePetAdvisor account — track your dogs and never miss a closing date.
What is the Great Lakes Poodle Club of Chicago Regional 2026?
The Great Lakes Poodle Club of Chicago hosts four specialty shows in two days — its 98th, 99th, 100th, and 101st — October 24–25, 2026, at the Francis Field Youth Building in New Lenox, Illinois. Each show is a separate event with its own judge and its own entry (100-entry limit per show), covering all three Poodle varieties with inter-variety competition. The Sunday-morning 100th show is the milestone: its Best of Breed winner takes home a PCA .999 fine silver medallion plus $100 cash. Judging is indoors and unbenched, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM; no dogs overnight.
At a glance
- Where: Francis Field Youth Building, 801 E Francis Rd, New Lenox, IL 60451
- When: Saturday, October 24 – Sunday, October 25, 2026 (AM + PM show each day)
- Entries: Closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon PDT (100-entry limit per show)
- Superintendent: BaRay Event Services, Inc.
- Host club: Great Lakes Poodle Club of Chicago
- Fees: $35 per entry, per show — each show entered separately
- Milestone: 100th show Sunday AM — PCA silver medallion + $100 cash to Best of Breed
The week, day by day
The schedule builds through the week toward the final judging:
- Sat, Oct 24 AM — 98th show — Sandy Bingham-Porter
- Sat, Oct 24 PM — 99th show — Timothy Catterson
- Sun, Oct 25 AM — 100th show — Barbara L Burns (milestone: silver medallion + $100 cash to Best of Breed)
- Sun, Oct 25 PM — 101st show — Mary Ellen Meyer
Who’s judging
The verified judging panel for 2026:
- Saturday AM (98th): Sandy Bingham-Porter
- Saturday PM (99th): Timothy Catterson
- Sunday AM (100th): Barbara L Burns
- Sunday PM (101st): Mary Ellen Meyer
Can you still enter?
Entries are closed. They closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon PDT through superintendent BaRay Event Services, Inc. (100-entry limit per show), so the entered dogs are set.
Spectators are welcome at Francis Field — and if you were planning to enter, a free ThePetAdvisor account keeps the club's next closing date on your radar so you never miss one again.
Planning your visit
Shows run indoors at the Francis Field Youth Building in New Lenox, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (no dogs overnight). Nearby hotel options include the LaQuinta Inn & Suites in Tinley Park and the Super 8 in Mokena — verify dogs welcome when booking. Dry RV camping is available at the site for $10/night Friday and Saturday.
See the full show page for the show-by-show schedule, the verified judge list, and the official premium list.
Why go
Four chances at a specialty major in one weekend — and the 100th show Sunday morning is a genuine milestone: its Best of Breed winner takes home a PCA .999 fine silver medallion plus $100 cash. Every show offers the AKC National Owner-Handled Series, inter-variety competition across all three Poodle varieties, and Best Puppy and Best Bred-By-Exhibitor in show. If you love Poodles, this is the Midwest's Poodle weekend.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the Great Lakes Poodle Club of Chicago Regional Specialty 2026?
October 24–25, 2026, at the Francis Field Youth Building in New Lenox, Illinois (801 E Francis Rd, New Lenox, IL 60451) — four Poodle-only specialty shows in two days, indoors and unbenched.
Can I still enter the 2026 Great Lakes Poodle Club of Chicago shows?
No — entries closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon PDT through superintendent BaRay Event Services, Inc. (100-entry limit per show). The entered dogs are already set.
Who is judging the four Poodle specialty shows?
Sandy Bingham-Porter (Saturday AM, 98th), Timothy Catterson (Saturday PM, 99th), Barbara L Burns (Sunday AM, 100th), and Mary Ellen Meyer (Sunday PM, 101st).
What is special about the 100th show?
The club's 100th specialty show runs Sunday morning, October 25 — its Best of Breed winner receives a PCA .999 fine silver medallion plus $100 cash.
Is Junior Showmanship offered?
No — the four shows are conformation-only, with NOHS, inter-variety competition, Best Puppy, and Best Bred-By-Exhibitor in show at each.
How do entries work for four shows in one weekend?
Each show is a separate event with its own entry: $35 per entry, per show. The 100-entry limit applies per show.
Planning your show season?
Create your free ThePetAdvisor account — track your dogs, plan your weekends, and never miss a closing date.