Alright, so it’s gonna be a pretty jam-packed Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. The city is gearing up for a whole bunch of events, which means residents and visitors might wanna brace themselves for some traffic, street closures, and big crowds. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications in Chicago is already warning folks about the potential chaos that could ensue.
Motorists better be ready for heavy traffic and possible reroutes in areas where events are happening. The city is planning some street closures to keep everyone safe, especially for larger events. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be around at select events to help direct traffic flow and deal with the inevitable traffic jams. So, it’s gonna be a bit of a mess, but hey, that’s just how it goes when there’s so much going on.
AC/DC is gonna rock Soldier Field on May 24th, the Sueños Fest will be happening on May 24th and 25th, and the Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival will be taking place from May 23rd to the 25th. Plus, there’s the Soldier Field 10-Mile and 10K on May 24th, the Ridge Run and Parade on May 26th, and of course, Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade on May 24th down State Street. The parade is all about honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, starting with a wreath laying ceremony at 11 a.m. in Daley Plaza, followed by the parade from Lake to Van Buren at noon. Be prepared for street closures during the parade, folks.
Now, onto the Sueños Fest in Grant Park, where there’s gonna be live music from Buckingham Fountain Plaza to Lower Hutchinson Field. It’s gonna draw in some big crowds, so be ready for that. The fest is for 18 and older, and it’s gonna take over a big chunk of the city from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive and Roosevelt Road to Jackson. So, yeah, it’s gonna be a busy one with lots of street closures in the area.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Chicago’s beaches are officially opening for the summer and Navy Pier’s iconic fireworks are making a comeback. Sounds like a good time, right? Well, maybe not so much for drivers looking to avoid the chaos. The lakefront is gonna be a mess with all the closures and crowds, so if you can steer clear, that might be a good idea. Security is gonna be tight across the city, with police planning to have a big presence over the holiday weekend. They’re gearing up for what has historically been a violent weekend, especially with those “teen takeover” events causing trouble. Last year was pretty rough, with nine people killed and over 40 wounded over the long weekend.
And to add to the madness, the Illinois Tollway is expecting record travel for the holiday weekend. They’re saying about 8 million vehicles will be hitting the tollway between Friday and Tuesday. Road crews will be out in full force to help out drivers in need, so that’s something at least. Just a reminder to everyone to follow the speed limits, especially in work zones, and put away those phones while driving. Safety first, folks.
