The Holiday season is in full swing with the Annual Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 28, stepping off at 8 a.m. on State Street. Residents and visitors can expect crowds during the Thanksgiving Day weekend throughout the city, including Christmas Tree and ice-skating rink in Millennium Park, Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, shopping on  “Black Friday” on November 29 and more. Additionally, this will also be a busy travel week at the city’s airports and on the roadways. Travelers are urged to use caution.

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is reminding everyone to be safe and vigilant, especially in crowds and report suspicious activity to 9-1-1. OEMC will monitor weather conditions with the National Weather Service and all citywide events from the Operations Center and coordinate public safety resources with the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and City of Chicago infrastructure departments.

OEMC offers the following safety tips for large-scale events:

• Have a designated meeting place if kids or family members get separated in crowds. Be sure everyone is clear on the meeting spot and knows ahead of time.
• Be aware of your location, escape routes and general surroundings in the event of an emergency.
• Download the Chicago OEMC app for holiday safety, weather information and more.The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores or visit the website, gov/OEMC
• Create an online Safety profile at www.SMART911.com now to provide essential details and information should there be a need to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Sign up at com
• 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.

Chicago Police Department Safety Tips for Holiday Shopping

• Keep your purse close to your body, preferably in front of you or under a jacket or coat.
• Be aware of where your purse is when you go to restaurants or hotel lounges. Thieves prey on purses hung over the back of a chair or left on the floor.
• If you carry a wallet, keep it in your front pants pocket or coat breast pocket.
• Always be alert and walk confidently. Be mindful of those who pass you on a crowded bus or train or bump into you on a sidewalk. These individuals may be pickpockets.
• Do not leave packages or other valuables on the car seat where they can be seen. Lock them in the trunk.
• Do not carry valuables in backpacks, which can easily be accessed in a crowded elevator, on an escalator or a checkout line.
• Keep an eye on credit cards and the paper trail they generate to avoid becoming the victim of identity theft. To reduce the risk, people should destroy extra copies of credit card receipts. It's also best not to carry personal information in a wallet or purse. This includes a social security number, an old credit card, ATM receipts or seldom used credit cards.
• Keep pertinent information, including credit card account numbers, banking information and social security numbers, in a secure but accessible place at home. That way, in the event that a credit card is lost or stolen, the information will be handy for reporting to authorities.
• Use caution when making online purchases, especially when the vendor is an individual rather than a known retailer.

Cold-Weather Tips:

• Motorists should take extra precautions to winterize vehicles and have necessary supplies on-the-go. Keep in mind, disabled vehicles or distracted driving can cause accidents, impact traffic and others or requiring emergency services.
• Residents should know the signs and care of frostbite and hypothermia. For Winter preparation information visit, gov/OEMC for details and links to other local, state, and federal resources.
• Avoid unnecessary trips outside if you must go out, limit the time you stay outside.
• Wear several layers of loose, warm cloth.
• Keep your head, hands and feet covered when outdoor.
• Stay dry because moisture can damage the insulation effectiveness of clothing.
• Pay extra attention to your daily needs: get enough sleep, eat high energy foods, drink warm beverages to help your body stay warm, and avoid alcoholic beverages.

Chicago Thanksgiving Day - State Street

Thursday, November 28, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on State Street is set to be broadcast live at 8 a.m. ending at 11a.m. The popular downtown parade will start at Ida B. Wells and head northbound on State Street to Randolph Street. There will be over 80 units consisting of giant helium balloons, floats, award-winning marching bands, equestrian units, local and national celebrities, animals, and various performance groups. The impacted area is from Roosevelt Road to Wacker Drive and Wells Street to Michigan Avenue. Residents can expect intermittent street closures between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. and parking restrictions will be in effect in the area. Spectators are encouraged to use public transportation. For Complete details, visit chicagothanksgivingparade.com

Turkey Trot Chicago 5K/8K, Lincoln Park, Diversey Harbor

Thursday, November 28, 9 a.m.

The Lifetime Turkey Trot Chicago run/walk on Thursday, November 28 in Lincoln Park starts at 9 a.m. at Fullerton Pkwy and Cannon Drive heading east on Fullerton to the Lakefront Trail and finishing just south of the Diversey Driving Range. For complete details, visit turkeytrotchicago.com

Edison Park Turkey Trot, 5K Fun Run and Walk

Thursday, November 28, 8:30 a.m.

The annual fun run and walk on Thursday, November 28 in Edison Park starts at 8:30am with a kid’s race followed by the 5K at 9:30am. Street closures through the neighborhood include:

1. Northwest Hwy from Devon to Overhill, N. Oketo to W. Onarga, W. Onarga to N. Octavia, N. Octavia to W. Ibsen, W. Ibsen to N. Odell, N. Odell to W. Birchwood to N. Ottawa and back to the finish at N. Northwest Hwy. For complete details, visit

epturkeytrot.enmotive.com/events/2024-edison-park-turkey-trot

Northwestern v. Illinois, Wrigley Field

Saturday, November 30, 11 a.m.

Football at Wrigley with Northwestern and Illinois kicks off at 11a.m. For details, visit mlb.com/cubs/tickets/events/

Grant Park Turkey Trot, 5K/10K, Run/Walk

Sunday, December 1, 9 a.m.

The annual run/walk in Grant Park on Sunday, December 1 begins at 9 a.m. The course is entirely along the Lakefront path and sidewalks, with the start and finish at DuSable Harbor (111 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive). For details, visit allcommunityevents.com/grantparkturkeytrot.

Toys for Tots Parade Motorcycle Parade

Sunday, December 1, 9:30 a.m.

The World’s Largest Motorcycle Parade will kick off at 9:30 a.m. at 8300 S. Western and ends at DePaul College Prep. Riders will depart in four waves and proceed North on S. Western Ave. to W. Roscoe St. and west on W. Roscoe to N. Campbell Ave. For additional details, visit ChicagolandTFT.org.

NOTE: The Winter Overnight Parking Ban goes into effect beginning Sunday, December 1, 2024 through April 1, 2025 to ensure the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) crews can quickly salt and plow the streets during a winter storm. The ban impacts approximately 107 miles of Chicago streets daily from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., and signage is permanently posted along the affected routes. Residents are encouraged to check the posted street signs for parking restrictions.

During the holiday season, Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand at events citywide to direct flow and impacts from heavy traffic. Public transportation is strongly encouraged. For more information on CTA services and reroutes, visit TransitChicago.com or call 312-836-7000 from any area code/1-888-YOUR-I CTA.

Download the Chicago OEMC App

For holiday safety and winter preparedness at your fingertips, residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App. The public safety tool provides safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, weather information, DSS Snowplow Tracker and more in the palm of your hand. Users will also have access to current forecasts, radar, and public safety information as well. The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores or visit the website, Chicago.gov/OEMC.

Weather

OEMC advises Chicagoans to be aware of weather conditions and to follow instructions and heed all warnings from public safety officials. We encourage residents to check the weather before heading out. For the most up-to-date weather information, please tune into local media or download a weather app. 

OEMC will issue any 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. OEMC also issues TEXT alerts for lakefront notices, issues affecting businesses or COVID-19 updates:

• 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

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).