UPCOMING EVENTS **

UPCOMING EVENTS **

July 4th Parade

July 5th ~ 10am-12pm

We’re calling on all Bartlett Raiders football players and cheerleaders to represent our team with pride in Bartlett’s annual 4th of July Parade! Let’s show our community the spirit, strength, and unity of the Midwest Raiders—sign up to walk with us!

Beer Tent at the 4th of July Festival

July 6th ~ 12pm-3pm

Bingo- Time is TBD

We’re looking for Raider parents to volunteer at the Bartlett 4th of July Festival to help serve beer from 12–3 PM and assist with Bingo. It’s a great way to support the organization and be part of the community fun—let us know if you can lend a hand!

Bartlett Buccaneers Special Needs Day

Date: To Be Announced

Our annual Buccaneers Day celebration will be announced soon—stay tuned for details. We hope you can join us for this fun-filled event!

Raiders In-House Scrimmage & Pep Rally

August 16th ~ Games: 9am-2pm with pep rally to follow

(Rain date: Aug 17th)

Let’s kick off the season Raider Style! Join us for a full day of action as our Raider teams take the field for our in-house scrimmages and season-opening pep rally! Scrimmages across all divisions, concessions, music, fun games and more!

Come out and celebrate the start of another powerful year of Raider Football & Cheer!

Raider’s Train Crawl

August 23rd

$10 per person

Get ready to ride, rally, and raise your Raider spirit! Join the Midwest Raiders Football & Cheer for a parents night out & rolling party like no other - bar hopping by train, repping your Raider gear, and making memories one stop at a time.

Drink specials | Music & Vibes | Group photo ops & memories | Raider Unity

Throw on your Raiders shirts and let’s make the Metra our party train! 21+ Event | Bring your crew | Drink responsibly

Oktoberfest

September 26th & 27th

We’ll be needing Raider volunteers to help out at the beer tent during this year’s Bartlett Oktoberfest community event. It’s a fun way to get involved, support our organization, and be part of one of Bartlett’s biggest weekends—sign-ups coming soon!

Black & Silver Ball

November 22nd

Save the date for our annual Black and Silver Raiders Ball on November 22nd—a night of celebration, dinner, dancing, and community pride. This signature event is the perfect way to close out the season in style with fellow Raider parents.

Midwest Raiders Give Back Day | at Feed My Starving Children

November 26th | 9am-11am

Midwest Raiders Youth Football & Cheer will come together at the conclusion of this successful season as an organization to Give Thanks and Give Back! Register and volunteer with us to turn hunger into hope with your own two hands by packing nutritious meals for hungry children around the world. More details on our FB page or here.

Turkey Bowl

November 27th

Join us for the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving AM, Thursday November 27th—our final event of the season and a Raider tradition like no other! Let’s wrap up the year with one last round of fun, football, and family spirit on the field.

“Protect the Shield”, a new Code of Conduct campaign designed to strengthen sportsmanship, respect, and unity both on and off the field. This initiative aligns with recent anti-bullying programs emerging in local youth sports, reaffirming the Raiders’ commitment to building a positive and supportive environment for all athletes and families.

Protect the Shield Program:

  • Ambassadors at Each Level

  • Protect the Shield Comment Boxes at Fields

  • Player Commitment Code of Conduct

  • Parent Code of Conduct

  • Midwest Raiders Zero Tolerance Policy

  • Bullying Acknowledgement & Accountability Form

Campaign Proudly Sponsored by APT Water Restoration and A Personal Touch Cleaning & Restoration

Community Outreach *

Community Outreach *

Buccaneers

Special Needs Day

In February 2022, the Bartlett Raiders youth football and cheer teams demonstrated their community spirit by delivering food to local firefighters battling a massive warehouse fire in Bartlett, Illinois. As the fire persisted into its third day, the young athletes, with support from local businesses like Capone’s Pizza and Rebecca’s Cakes by Design, provided meals to express gratitude for the firefighters' relentless efforts. This act of kindness not only offered much-needed nourishment but also uplifted the morale of the first responders during a challenging time. The gesture highlighted the strong community bonds in Bartlett and the Raiders' commitment to supporting those who serve.

In a heartwarming moment during the Bartlett Raiders' homecoming game, 7-year-old Griffin Markel, who has Down syndrome, scored his first touchdown. The team orchestrated a special play, allowing Griffin to carry the ball into the end zone, leading to an outpouring of cheers from teammates, coaches, and spectators alike. His parents were visibly moved, noting the overwhelming support and joy shared by all present. This memorable event not only celebrated Griffin's achievement but also highlighted the inclusive and supportive spirit of the Bartlett Raiders community.

Fundraising

Midwest Raiders 2025 Split the Pot Raffle

The Midwest Raiders Youth Football & Cheer are excited to announce our Split the Pot Raffle – a fun way to support our athletes, with a chance to win BIG just in time for the holidays!

🔹 How It Works

  • Tickets: $10 each | 3 for $20 | 10 for $50

  • Sales Goal: Each athlete is encouraged to sell $100 worth of tickets

  • Eligibility: Open to all – athletes, families, friends, coaches, sponsors, and community members!

  • Drawing: November 22 at 9:00 PM (during the Black & Silver Ball) – streamed live on Facebook.

  • Do not need to be present to win!

🔹 Prizes & Awards

🏆 For Athletes

  • $500 Gift Card of your choice – most dollars sold

  • $250 Gift Card of your choice – 2nd most dollars sold

  • FULL TEAM BONUS: If your entire roster meets the $100 goal by October 31st, your team earns a $200 slush fund for team parties or extras!

🏆 For Sponsors

  • Top-selling sponsor will receive $500 credit toward their 2026 sponsorship package.

🔹 Why Join?

  • With 587 athletes, if every athlete meets the $100 goal, the jackpot winner could take home over $29,000! 💰

  • Your odds of winning here are MUCH better than the lottery.

  • Every ticket sold directly supports Raiders programs – including scholarships for athletes, cheer commitments, equipment upgrades, and facilities improvements.

🔹 Weekly Updates

  • Starting October 10th, follow us on social media for weekly pot updates to see how big the prize is growing!

🔹 Easy Ticket Access

  • Tickets available through athletes, at concessions, and from sponsors.

  • Don’t miss your chance – this pot will grow FAST!

📅 Mark your calendar: November 22 – Facebook Live Drawing @ 9 PM

📲 Stay tuned for updates on our official Midwest Raiders Facebook page.

FAQ & Things To Know