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.

Bud Billiken Parade / Bronzeville Community
Saturday, August 13 at 10 a.m.
The 93rd Annual Bud Billiken Parade will step-off at 10 a.m. in the Bronzeville Community at King Drive and 45th Street. Street closures are along King Drive from 39th Street thru 59th Street and along 55th from Prairie Avenue east into Washington Park to Cottage Grove. The parade route is as follows: 45th Street at King Drive and proceed south on King Drive to 51st Street and east on 51st Street to Ellsworth Drive in Washington Park, then South on Ellsworth to Morgan Dr. and Payne Dr. for disbanding. All units will disband on Payne Drive, east of Morgan Drive in Washington Park.

OEMC, the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department will be on-site coordinating public safety and resources. The Traffic Management Authority TCAs will be on hand to direct flow and impacts of traffic. Motorists in the area should be aware of street closures and pedestrians. For complete details, visit BudBilikenParade.org

Chicago Bears Pre-Season Opener / Soldier Field
Saturday, August 13 at Noon
The Chicago Bears take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field for their first home preseason game at noon on Saturday. Parking lots open at 8 a.m. and gates open at 10 a.m.

Fan Safety:
• Fans attending the game are required to enter Soldier Filed using a mobile ticket.
• Soldier Field’s NFL clear bag policy will be in effect for this event. Clear plastic bags/backpacks that do not exceed 12"x6"x12" or one gallon (or smaller) clear plastic freezer bags are allowed. Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options. For complete details including a list of prohibited items, visit ChicagoBears.com/game-day/Coming-to-the-Game

Parking, Ride-Share and Transportation:
• Event Parking lots open at 8 a.m.
• Rideshare Uber/Lyft drop-off/pick-up is located at Balbo and Columbus. The 18th St. turnaround will also be designated for drop-offs and the 18th St. McCormick lot will be utilized for pick-ups. Rideshare users are urged to be alert and take the necessary precautions before entering a ride-share vehicle.
• No exiting from vehicles on or along DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be condoned.
• Residential parking restrictions are in effect around Soldier Field. Call 3-1-1 to locate towed vehicles.

Retro on Roscoe / Roscoe Village
Friday, August 12, 5p.m.–10p.m., Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14, noon–10p.m.
The Annual Retro on Roscoe festival includes three stages along a six-block stretch on West Roscoe Street from Damen Avenue to Oakley Street. For additional details, visit StarEvents.com/event/Retro-on-Roscoe
Street closures:
• 2000 – 2058 W Roscoe St (Roscoe-Hoyne)
• 3370 – 3420 N Seeley Ave (Seeley-Roscoe)
• 3370 – 3420 N Hoyne Ave (Hoyne-Roscoe
• 3370 – 3420 N Hamilton Ave (Hamilton-Roscoe)
• 3370 – 3420 N Leavitt St (Leavitt-Roscoe
• 3350 – 3420 N Bell Ave (Bell-Roscoe)
• 3370 – 3420 N Oakley Ave (Oakley-Roscoe
• 3370 – 3420 N Claremont Ave (Claremont-Oakley)
• 2058 – 2348 W Roscoe St (Roscoe-Hoyne)

Edison Park Fest / 6730 North Olmsted Avenue
Friday, August 12, 5p.m.–10p.m, Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14, noon–10p.m.
This annual community fundraiser welcomes nearly 20,000 attendees throughout the weekend. For additional details, visit EdisonParkFest.org/
Street closures:
• 6700 – 6843 N Olmsted Ave
• 6629 – 6699 N Oliphant Ave
• 6700 – 6728 N Oshkosh Ave

Printer’s Row Art Fest / South Loop
Saturday, August 13 – Sunday August 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Printer’s Row Art Fest is a new cool vibe art festival in Chicago’s up and coming South Loop, a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community. The event is located on Dearborn Street from Harrison to Polk streets (701 S. Dearborn).

Chicago’s Little Italy Fest / Taylor Street
Thursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14, noon – 10 p.m.
Chicago's Little Italy Fest-Taylor Street celebrates the great history of the neighborhood by celebrating the rich culture of the generations of Italians who settled there decades ago. For details, visit eventcrazy.com/ChicagoLittleItalyFest
Street Closures:
• 1236 – 1600 W Taylor St
• 929 – 1013 S Laflin St
• 900 – 928 S Ada St
• 914 – 1010 S Loomis St

Pakistan Independence Day Parade
Sunday, August 14, 11 a.m.
The Pakistan Independence Day Parade celebrates Pakistan’s independence from British colonization. The parade will step off at Devon and Damen Avenue, along Damen to Western Avenue.

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

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.