CHICAGO – City of Chicago officials welcome back the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday, March 26 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Grant Park officially kicking off the running season in Chicago. The race returns as part of the City’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and will kick-off with a 1-mile run on Saturday, March 25 in Grant Park. On Sunday, March 26 the larger 8K run begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 2-Mile Walk at 9:30 a.m., which will take participants through the heart of downtown. Following the race runners can enjoy live music at the Post-Race Party in Grant Park. For more information about the event, visit shamrockshuffle.com.

"The City of Chicago has been working with race organizers and our partners to make this a great event for race participants, residents and visitors,” said Rich Guidice, Executive Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). “As always, public safety is our number one priority, and we want to remind the public to help keep Chicago safe, look out for each other and report any suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1.”

Please be advised on the following streets closed to traffic during the weekend:
Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m.
• Balbo Avenue from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Saturday, March 25 at 6 a.m.
• Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street
• Balbo Avenue from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
• Jackson Boulevard from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Laker Shore Drive.
• Ida B. Wells Drive from Congress Plaza to Columbus Drive
Sunday, March 26, between 8 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.* as runners pass through the area:
• Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Grand Avenue
• Grand Avenue from Columbus Drive to State Street
• State Street from Grand Avenue to Wacker Drive
• Wacker Drive from State Street to Washington Blvd.
• Washington Blvd. from Wacker Drive to State Street
• State Street from Washington Blvd. to Jackson Blvd.
• Jackson Blvd. from State Street to Franklin Street
• Franklin Street from Jackson Blvd. to Harrison Street
• Harrison Street from Franklin Street to Michigan Avenue
• Michigan Avenue from Harrison Street to Roosevelt Road
• Roosevelt Road from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive

No parking will be allowed along the racecourse starting at 3 a.m. on Sunday, March 20. Vehicles that are not removed from the street by that time will be ticketed and towed. For inquiries about towed vehicles, call 312.744.4444.

DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Ida B. Wells Drive and N. Michigan Avenue will remain open. There will be limited vehicle access through Grant Park for the duration of the event, from 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, to approximately 3 p.m., on Sunday, March 26. For complete details on street closures and the course visit shamrockshuffle.com/streetclosures.

Pole Marker Locations: For public safety, race participants and spectators are reminded to be aware of the numbers attached to the poles throughout the Grant Park area to help them reference their location within the park to friends, family and first responders if there is an emergency. Pole markings signage is posted in the Grant Park area, including the area from Roosevelt Road to Randolph Street, along DuSable Lake Shore Drive (LSD), Columbus and Michigan Avenue.

Motorists in the area along the race route should be prepared for heavy increased traffic and reroutes. Street closures will be in effect to ensure public safety. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand at events citywide to direct flow and traffic impacts from. Public transportation is encouraged. For more information on CTA services and reroutes, visit transitchicago.com or call 312-836-7000 from any area code/1-888-YOUR-CTA.

NOTE: Due to the Kennedy/Edens Expressway construction, motorists may experience delays and increased traffic on local area streets as drivers find alternative routes to avoid impacts of the project. For complete details on the construction project, visit the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) website at Idot.illinois.gov/projects/Interstate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study

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 OEMC App
Residents and visitors are encouraged to download the new Chicago OEMC App as a public safety tool providing public safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, parade day weather information and more in the palm of your hand. The app is now available through the Apple App and Google Play stores. To immediately download, click HERE or visit the website Chicago.gov/oemc.

Weather
OEMC and race officials will be monitoring the weather conditions and advises Chicagoans to be prepared and check the weather before heading out and to follow instructions and heed all warnings from public safety officials. For the most up-to-date weather information, please tune into local media or download the Chicago OEMC App to get the latest forecast, radar and other information.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will monitor events in collaboration with public safety partners. 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
• COVID: Get COVID-19 updates by TEXTING “COVID19” 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).

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