With Taste of Chicago back in Grant Park and multiple festivals, athletic events and concerts happening throughout the city and along the lakefront 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.

“As we move into another busy weekend, OEMC and the Chicago Police Department are monitoring events throughout the city and remind residents to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement by calling 9-1-1,” said Rich Guidice, OEMC Executive Director. “While there are no known threats to Chicago, we continue to maintain situational awareness of activity and are prepared to respond as needed to any incident affecting public safety.”

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.

Taste of Chicago – Grant Park
Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10, 11 am – 9 pm.
The Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park with an array of eateries showcasing the city’s culinary excellence and diversity. Entrance gates are located at Columbus Drive & Jackson Drive, Columbus Drive & Ida B. Wells, and Columbus Drive & Balbo Drive. ALL festival attendees will be required to walk through certified metal detectors and bags will be searched at all entrances. Attendees may be subjected to additional screenings such as magnetometer wanding and/or physical pat down. Prohibited items will be confiscated and discarded. Click here for prohibited items and additional security measures.

Taste of Chicago Street Closures
The following street closures will remain in effect through Monday, July 11 at 4 pm.
• Columbus is closed between Monroe and Balbo. Jackson and Balbo will be open to vehicular traffic
• Ida B Wells is closed from Michigan to Columbus.
• The semi- circle and west leg to Michigan will remain open to traffic
Grant Park Poles Markers/Location Identifiers: For public safety at Taste of Chicago and on the lakefront, festival attendees are reminded to be aware of the numbers attached to the light poles throughout the Grant Park area. The green signs with white letters and numbers are also located from 1200 DuSable Lake Shore Drive to 6600 DuSable Lake Shore Drive to help them reference their location within the park to friends, family and first responders if there is an emergency and you call 9-1-1.

Other Citywide Weekend Events
Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison and Joan Jett–Wrigley Field
Friday, July 8 at 4:30 p.m. (Gates open at 3:30 pm) - mlb.com/Wrigley Concerts

Third Eye Blind – Huntington Bank Pavilion
Friday, July 8 at Huntington Bank Pavilion, 7 pm - PavilionNortherlyIsland.com

West Fest – West Town
Friday, July 8, 5–10 pm; Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10, noon–10 pm.
West Fest Chicago is an annual street festival held in Chicago’s West Town Community on Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street (1800–2000). For complete details, visit WestTownChamber.org

Zac Brown Band – Wrigley Field
Saturday, July 9 at 7 pm - mlb.com/Wrigley Concerts

Bronzeville Summer Nights – Bronzeville
Friday, July 8 from 5 pm –8 pm,
Summer Nights is an event pairing local arts, culture, and entertainment in Bronzeville along 47th Street between Wabash to Lake Park. For complete details, visit BronzevilleSummerNights.com

Square Roots Festival – Lincoln Square
Friday, July 8, 5-10 pm, Saturday, July 9, noon-10 pm and Sunday, July 10, noon-9 pm
The festival in the Lincoln Square neighborhood is located on Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Wilson. For complete details, visit squareroots.org.

West Loop Summer Fest – West Loop
July 9th & 10th,12 – 10 pm, at Washington Blvd. & Sangamon St.
The West Loop festival is located on Washington Street from Morgan to Peoria.
For complete details, visit chicagoevents.com/WestLoopSummerFest

Southport Arts Festival – Wrigleyville
Saturday July 9 and Sunday, July 10, 10 am - 7 pm.
Located in the Southport corridor at W. Waveland and N. Southport. For complete details, visit
StarEvents.com.

Big 10K Run – Soldier Field
Sunday, July 10, 7–10 am.
This one-loop route takes runners along the south of Lake Michigan on the lakefront trail, starting and finishing in Soldier Field. For Complete details, visit btnbig10k.com

White Sox vs. Tigers– Guaranteed Rate
Thursday July 7 and Friday July 8 at 7:10 pm, Saturday July 9 and Sunday, July 10 at 1:10 pm. For complete details, visit Mlb.com.

Fireworks at Navy Pier – Navy Pier
Saturday, July 9 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.

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

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.