A $5,000 prize goes to the last ticket standing at the Park Ridge Historical Society's "Lucky Loser" raffle on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pennyville Station, 112 Main St. The format works in reverse: 99 of the 100 ticket numbers will be drawn as losers throughout the evening. Whoever holds the one undrawn ticket wins the grand prize.

Only 100 tickets will be sold.

Each costs $150, and proceeds go toward restoring the 1934 "Lil' Pirsch" fire truck. The truck started as a 1921 Park Ridge fire engine and was upgraded by the Pirsch company in 1934, according to a Chicago Area Fire history published in 2021. Retired Park Ridge Fire Department Capt. Ralph Bishop tried to buy the Pirsch in 1959, but the selling price was too high for one person or one family, that account noted.

The historical society purchased the Lil' Pirsch for $20,000 in 2020, the Chicago Tribune reported in 2023. The society was then raising money for new brakes and engine parts.

The raffle was originally scheduled for Aug. 20 before being moved to Sept. 23, the Journal & Topics reported. The historical society said on its fundraiser page that the raffle benefits the 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Ticket holders can check their raffle numbers on the historical society's website on Sept. 23, with updates posted as the drawing unfolds.

The Park Ridge History Center planned a special exhibit on the history of the Park Ridge Fire Department for spring 2026, featuring documents, uniforms and photos from the department's early years.