Another busy weekend in Chicago Riot Fest, the Chicago Football Classic as well as festivals and sporting events happening throughout the city. 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.

 

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™ OEMC reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity – especially in large gatherings. 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. “lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent threat to the United States.”

 

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

 

Riot Fest annual music festival takes place in Chicago’s Douglass Park, 1401 S Sacramento Drive. Musical acts perform on multiple stages throughout the grounds on Friday through Sunday at 11 a m – 10 pm. Public transportation is strongly encouraged.

 

The main entrance is located at Ogden and Sacramento. Event boundaries include S. Albany Ave., California Ave., 19th Street, and Ogden Ave. Taxis, Limos, Ubers, Lyft, and other ride shares will drop off and stage on the north side of the Ogden Dr. inner drive, westbound between California and Sacramento. Click HERE for festival map, entrances, rideshare and taxi dropoff, and more.. For complete details, visit RiotFest.org.

 

The 26th Chicago Football Classic kicks off at 3:30 p.m. between the Morehouse Tigers v. Kentucky State Thorobreds. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. and the parking garage opens at 6 a.m. For complete details, visit ChicagoFootballClassic.org/ or SoldierField.net.

 

The Boca Chueca Tour starts at 8 p.m. and gates open at 6:30 p.m. For details, visit UnitedCenter.com

 

Located at Washington and Sangamon. For details, visit StarEvents.com

 

World Music Festival Chicago features free performances in 11 indoor and outdoor venues across the city. Throughout the 10-day festival, globally curious music enthusiasts can experience the sounds of a wide variety of musical genres from diverse geographical regions including Colombia, Italy, Pakistan, Sweden and more. For details, visit WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org

 

The 25th annual festival will be held in Hamilton Park at 513 W. 72nd Street. For details, visit EnglewoodJazzFestival.org/.

 

The Run on the lakefront trail starts at 6:30am at Montrose Wilson Track at Wilso Dr. and DuSable Lake Shore Drive and finishes at Jackson Park Grove at Hayes Dr. and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. For details, visit CaraRuns.org/readytorun.

 

Start time is 8 a.m. for the relocated swim course that consists of a long, out-and-back loop set parallel to Chicago's Lakefront Trail and Lake Shore Drive. Short course (1 mile) swimmers will complete one counterclockwise loop, turning around near Oak Street. Long course (2 mile) swimmers will complete two loops. All swimmers will cross under the in-water Finish Line setup along the ledge near Ohio Street Beach. For complete details, visit ChicagoRiverSwim.org/

 

Thursday, September 19, 6:40 p.m.; Friday, September 20, Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 at 1:20 p.m.

For complete details, visit MLB.com/cubs/ballpark.

 

As a reminder, fall bridge lifts begin Saturday, September 21 at 9 a.m. Bridges along the main and south branches of the Chicago River will be lifted sequentially on a twice weekly schedule, Saturdays and Wednesdays, to allow sailboats and other recreational boats to make their annual trip from the open waters of Lake Michigan to their winter storage facilities. During these boat runs, the bridges are typically raised one at a time, with each bridge lift taking an average of 8-12 minutes. A total of 27 bridges will be lifted in succession from Lake Shore Drive to Ashland Avenue Bridge on the south branch of the Chicago River. For details, visit Chicago.gov/CDOT

 

Pole Markers/Location Identifiers: For public safety on the lakefront, event and concert attendees are reminded to be aware of the numbers attached to the poles throughout the Grant Park area and lakefront to help reference their location within the park if you call 9-1-1 in an emergency. 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers will be able to provide the location to first responders. They can also be used between friends and family members as a meeting point if you become separated. For complete details, click Chicago.gov/OEMC/Pole Marking/Location Identifiers.

 

Public Transportation: As for any large–scale event, public transportation is encouraged, and both CTA and Metra will provide additional service for the event. For more information, visit CTA at TransitChicago.com 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.

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), X /Twitter.com (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), and