Chicago City Wire

The 53rd Chicago Pride Parade will march through the city's Northhalsted, Lakeview, Uptown, and Lincoln Park neighborhoods on Sunday, June 30. The parade features a new route and start time at 11 a.m., which is expected to bring large crowds, street closures, and increased traffic in the area.

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) advises residents, spectators, and motorists to be aware of street closures, traffic restrictions, and additional crowds. The City of Chicago will have citywide deployments to ensure public safety throughout the weekend. OEMC will monitor events and weather conditions citywide by activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate public safety resources with critical stakeholders. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be present at select events to manage traffic flow.

The city encourages the public to report any suspicious activity under the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign by notifying onsite security or calling 9-1-1. This national anti-terrorism awareness initiative emphasizes reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.

Forecasts predict excessive heat over the weekend with temperatures reaching the upper 80s on Saturday and lower 70s on Sunday. Residents are urged to check on relatives, neighbors, seniors, and vulnerable populations during extreme temperatures. If unable to make contact with someone potentially affected by the heat, a wellbeing check can be requested via the CHI311 app or by calling 3-1-1. In case of a medical emergency due to heat-related illness, call 9-1-1.

The Pride Parade begins at Sheridan and Broadway at 11 a.m., proceeding south on Halsted; east on Belmont; south on Broadway; and east on Diversey before disbanding at Sheridan. Street closures for participant staging areas may start as early as 7:30 a.m., with parade route closures beginning around 8:30 a.m., depending on crowd size for safety reasons. Streets are expected to reopen fully by 4 p.m.

Public transportation is recommended due to parking restrictions starting at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning in assembly areas and along the parade route. Temporary pole identifiers will be visible from light poles throughout the parade route for location assistance in case attendees get lost or need help.

Despite no actionable intelligence indicating specific threats this year, Chicago’s public safety departments continue robust security measures in coordination with parade organizers. CPD officers will secure the parade route while OEMC coordinates comprehensive safety plans with law enforcement partners.

Other notable events include two Rolling Stones concerts at Soldier Field on Thursday, June 27th and Sunday, June 30th; three Chicago White Sox games against Colorado Rockies from June 28th - June 30th; Logan Square Arts Festival from June 28th - June 30th; Navy Pier Pride event including performances and fireworks on Saturday evening.

Public transportation services CTA and Metra will provide additional service for these events as it remains an affordable option for navigating summertime activities in Chicago.

Residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App for real-time updates on weather conditions and emergencies this summer season.

For more information about emergency preparedness visit Chicago.gov/OEMC or follow OEMC social media channels: Facebook (@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911).