With multiple festivals and concerts happening throughout the city this weekend, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is advising residents and visitors to be aware of street closures, additional crowds, increased traffic and to plan accordingly. OEMC is advising residents, to stay vigilant and enjoy the weekend safely and responsibly.

This weekend, the City of Chicago will have citywide deployments to ensure the safety and security of the public. The OEMC will monitor weekend events and weather conditions citywide from the Operations Center and will coordinate public safety resources with critical stakeholders as needed. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand at select events citywide to direct flow and impacts from increased traffic.

Report Suspicious Activity: If You See Something, Say Something. The city reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. If you notice something suspicious, notify onsite security or call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.

Windy City Smokeout
Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 7 at the United Center
Windy City Smokeout, the country music and BBQ festival will return to the outside the United Center. The festival is in Parking Lot C (1901 W. Madison St), entrance to the festival is at Madison and Wood Streets. Event Times: Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5, 2–10 pm.; Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7: 1–10 pm.

For public safety, all attendees will be subject to a full and complete search prior to entry. This includes walking through a magnetometer and bag check upon entering the event site. Attendees may be subjected to additional screening, such as a pat down. Persons that refuse to comply with the search policy will be refused entry into the event. For all security details, including allowed and prohibited items, visit Windy City Smokeout Public Safety.

Streets around the United Center are closed in both directions on Madison Street from Paulina to Damen; Wood Street from Warren to Monroe; and the two south lanes are closed on Warren Street from Wood to Damen. Traffic Control Aides (TCA’s) will be on hand to direct flow and impacts from heavy traffic. For additional details visit WindyCitySmokeout.com.

Northalsted Market Days
Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
The 40th Northalsted Market Days® is a weekend long live music street festival in Chicago’s landmark Northalsted/Lakeview district. Located on Halsted Street between Belmont to Addison, the 1/2-mile-long summer festival features all-day lineups of live music on 5 stages, 200+ unique vendors, arts, crafts, food and drink, DJs/dancing, and more.

Halsted St (between Belmont Ave and Addison St) will close to vehicular traffic at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 5 and reopen on Monday, August 8 at 6 a.m. For complete details, visit Northalsted.com/MarketDays#info1

Public Health Guidance on Monkeypox: The Chicago Department of Public Health encourages anyone with symptoms of Monkeypox (MPV) to see a healthcare provider to get tested; if you do not have access to a provider, please call 312-746-4835 or visit findhealthcarecenter.hrsa.gov to get connected. There is a vaccine available for those who are at highest risk, although supplies right now are limited. If you are experiencing any symptoms, avoid close contact with others and take a break from sex, going out to bars, gyms, clubs and other events. Do not share personal items and wash your hands and clean shared surfaces regularly. For more information, visit www.chicago.gov/mpv.

Public Health Guidance on COVID-19: The Chicago Department of Public Health strongly urges everyone to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines including all recommended boosters. If you are not vaccinated, wear a mask, avoid crowded areas of the festival and stay at least six feet away from other groups. Do not attend if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID-19 5 days prior, even if you’re vaccinated

Weather and Public Safety: OEMC will monitor events through a collaboration with public safety partners. OEMC advises Chicagoans to be aware of weather conditions and to follow instructions and heed all warnings from public safety officials. Residents are encouraged to check the weather before heading out. For the most up-to-date information, please tune into local media or download a weather app.

OEMC issues alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on weather conditions and emergencies.
• Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org
• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3
• COVID: Get COVID-19 updates by TEXTING “COVID19” to 6-7-2-8-3

Other Citywide Weekend Events
Chicago Ducky Derby – Chicago River
Thursday, August 4. Family Festival begins at 10 a.m. at 401 N. Michigan Ave., 1 p.m. race start at Columbus Drive Bridge. DuckRace.com/Chicago

Elton John at Soldier Field
Friday, August 5, 8 p.m. Parking lot opens at 4 p.m. and gates open at 6 pm SoldierField.com/Elton John

Brandi Carlile at Northerly Island, Huntington Bank Pavilion
Saturday, August 6, 6:30 p.m. LiveNation.com/NortherlyIsland

Dancing in the Streets
Friday, August 5, 5–10 p.m., Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7, Noon–10 pm.
Hubbard Street between Paulina and Wood.
Street Closures: 1700-1759 W. Hubbard Street; 1731-1821 W. Kinzie St.; 401-460 H. Hermitage Ave; and 430-460 N. Paulina St. (curb lanes closure only)
WestTownChamber.org/DancingInTheStreets

Bronzeville Jazz Festival
Saturday, August 6 from Noon to 8 pm on Martin Luther King Drive from 39th to 37th Street. For details, visit happeningnext.com/BronzevilleJazzFest

North Lawndale Arts Festival at Douglass Park
Saturday, August 6, Noon–7 pm ChicagoParkDistrict.com/NorthLawndaleArtsFestival

Fireworks at Navy Pier – Navy Pier
Saturday, August 7 at 10 pm For complete details, visit NavyPier.org

Public Transportation: For all large events, public transportation is encouraged. Public transit is the most affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly way to get to and from summertime events. For more information, visit CTA and Metra.com.

Grant Park and Lakefront Poles Markers/Location Identifiers: For public safety on the lakefront, residents and visitors are reminded to be aware of the numbers attached to the light poles throughout the Grant Park area and along the lakefront. The green signs with white letters and numbers are also located from 1200 DuSable Lake Shore Drive to 6600 DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Oak Street to Fullerton and Montrose to Foster Avenue to help residents reference their location within the park to friends, family and first responders if there is an emergency and you call 9-1-1.

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook (@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC) and Instagram (chicago_oemc_911).

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About OEMC
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) oversees several functions that support public safety and provides assistance to residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The OEMC manages the following operational areas for the city: 9-1-1 call taking and dispatch; the 3-1-1 call center; emergency management; and traffic management. The OEMC coordinates with departments citywide, including the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department, in addition to various other local, state, and federal agencies as it relates to public safety planning and coordination for everything from large-scale special events to public safety emergencies and disasters.