The Sueños Chicago music festival returns to the Lakefront from noon to 10 p.m. daily in Grant Park on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25. With multiple festivals, concerts, athletic events, the opening of beaches and simultaneous events throughout the city and along the lakefront this Memorial Day weekend, the City of Chicago is advising residents and visitors to be aware of street closures, additional crowds and increased traffic and plan accordingly.

 

The City of Chicago will have citywide deployments for Memorial Day Weekend to ensure the safety and security of the public. The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will monitor weekend events and weather conditions citywide from the Operations Center and coordinate public safety resources with critical stakeholders. The OEMC will also be activating its Emergency Operations Center for the weekend to allow for enhanced citywide coordination amongst the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and City of Chicago infrastructure departments, city agencies and private partners.

 

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.

 

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 as well as along DuSable Lake Shore Drive from 5700 North to 6600 South and various points along the lakefront trail. The pole markers help reference their location within the park to event security and first responders if there is an emergency.

 

Motorists in the areas where events are happening should be prepared for heavy traffic and possible reroutes. There will be some street closures in effect for larger events to ensure public safety. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand at events citywide to direct flow and impacts from heavy traffic. 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-I CTA.

 

SUEÑOS CHICAGO

The popular music festival has expanded its’ footprint for 2025 and added a stage on Buckingham Fountain Plaza along with the main stage in Lower Hutchinson Field and is expected to draw fans to Chicago’s lakefront for the two-day event. As the festival gets underway, the OEMC encourages those attending to enjoy a fun and safe event by adhering to all security precautions, being aware of your surroundings and to mind your personal belongings.

 

The festival in Grant Park boundaries are from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive and Roosevelt Road to Jackson. All motorists, pedestrians and residents in the area are reminded of the street closures and traffic impacts throughout the weekend. The Museum Campus access is available via 11^th Street or Roosevelt Road. For complete festival information, visit SuenosMusicFestival.com/

 

Festival Entry and Age Requirement

Concertgoers can enter the festival at the Congress Circle and Ida B. Wells Drive. All attendees must have a ticket and be 18 years or older to enter. This will be strictly enforced. 

 

Safety, Security Screening and Enforcement

Security measures have been refined for the event’s layered security plan in addition to an enhanced security and law enforcement presence inside and outside the festival. For the safety of everyone entering the festival subject to search (this includes entry and re-entry). As always, underage drinking is not allowed, and the ordinance will be strictly enforced. Attendees are reminded that if they see something suspicious to say something to on-site security personnel or call 9-1-1.

 

In case of emergency, attendees for Sueños Chicago will also receive safety messages from the official Sueños Music Festival app, video screens at both stages and directional signage throughout the event., as well as audio announcements broadcasted and real–time updates on Sueños Chicago’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.

 

Bag Search: ALL bags will be searched before entry. CLEAR bags made up of clear plastic, vinyl, or pvc, and no larger than 12" x 12" x 6" ONLY allowed. Small clutch purses and fanny packs with no more than one pocket and no larger than 6" x 9”. Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited. Hydration packs are allowed but must be emptied of all liquid and have no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir. Those that DO NOT bring a bag can enter through the No Bag Express Lane. Those that DO have a bag must enter through the Bag Lane and should expect delays as bags are open for inspection.

 

Prohibited Items: No liquids will be allowed into the event. However, patrons can drink water while in line if the container is empty prior to entry. Empty containers and hydration packs are allowed into the event but must be emptied of all liquid and have no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir. Free water will be provided at Hydration Stations inside the venue. For a list of allowed and prohibited items, click HERE.

 

TRAFFIC IMPACTS + TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SUEÑOS CHICAGO

 

Street Closures in Place for Sueños Chicago: Traffic control aides will be deployed to facilitate traffic around the area. The following closures are in effect:

Full Street Closures

·         Balbo from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: Wednesday, May 14 at 6 a.m.–Saturday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

·         Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Jackson: Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m.– Monday, May 27 at 11:59 p.m.

·         Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue: Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m.–Monday, May 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Sidewalk Closures

·         Balbo Drive eastbound and westbound sidewalks from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: Wednesday, May 14, 6 a.m. to Saturday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

·         Balbo Drive east bound and west bound sidewalks from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue: Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m. to Monday, May 26 at 11:59 p.m.

·         Columbus Drive north bound sidewalks from 9^th Street Yard to Van Buren, Wednesday, May 14 at 6 a.m. to Thursday, May 29 to 11:59 p.m. (rolling)

·         Columbus Drive north bound sidewalks from Ida B. Wells to9th Street Yard, Wednesday, May 14 at 6 a.m. to Thursday, May 29 to 11:59 p.m. (rolling)

·         DuSable Lake Shore Drive south bound sidewalk from Buckingham Fountain to Roosevelt Road:  Wednesday, May 21, 12:01 a.m. to Tuesday, May 27, 11:59 p.m.

·         Ida  B. Wells and Congress Parkway Circle between Michigan and Columbus and  S. Michigan Avenue, Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. to Monday, May 26 at 11:59 p.m.

·         S. Michigan Ave: northbound from Jackson to Roosevelt, Saturday, May 24 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, May 25 at 11:59 a.m.

 

Public Transportation: As for any large–scale event, public transportation is encouraged and both CTA and Metra provide additional service for the event. Public transit is the most affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly way to get to and from summertime events. For more information, visit CTA at transitchicago.com and metra.com.

 

Parking

Parking is available at Millennium Garages situated beneath Grant Park, Millennium Park & Maggie Daley Park. Other garages in the area include the Millennium Lakeside Garage, Grant Park South & Grant Park South. Parking at Soldier Field will be available on site, visit SoldierFieldParking.com for details. However, public transportation is strongly encouraged.

 

Rideshares, Taxi Cabs, Car Services and Pedicabs: Geofencing boundaries and designated pick-up and drop-off locations will be in effect for the safety of pedestrians and motorists:

Sueños Festival in Grant Park: Ida B Wells, DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Roosevelt Road, and State Street.

Staging, pick-up, and drop-offs are restricted from Randolph St. to 16th St., DuSable Lake Shore Drive to State St. TNPs, Taxis, Charters, and Liveries may pick-up and/or drop off at the following locations:

·        Northeast curb of Michigan Ave at Balbo – ADA pick-up and drop-off

·         11th / Wabash – drop-off and pick-up

·         Millennium Park Garages – drop-off, pick-up, and staging

o   From Lower Wacker and N Columbus Dr, head south on N Columbus Dr, take the ramp to Lower Columbus continuing to Lower Randolph, continue straight into the garage, follow the arrows to the TNP area.

·         Divvy and e-scooters are restricted (no travel and no park zone) within the area of Monroe to Roosevelt, State to DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

·         No vehicles stopping, standing, or parking in bus or bicycle lanes, active traffic lanes, intersections, fire lanes, sidewalk crossings, turning lanes, etc.

·         No pick-up or drop-off on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, including on-ramps, off-ramps, medians, turning lanes, shoulders, and emergency pull-off areas.

·         Pedicabs can only be operated on Michigan Avenue and State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Oak Street. All will be strictly enforced.

 

Chicago OEMC App – Know Before You Head Out

For safety and preparedness this Summer, residents and visitors are encouraged to gear up and download the new Chicago OEMC App. The public safety tool provides safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, CHI Safe Walk, weather information and more in the palm of your hand. Users will also have access to current events and 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.

 

OEMC Traffic and Weather Notifications:

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. 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 monitor all citywide events through a collaboration with public safety partners and will issue several alerts and notifications to keep residents up to date on weather conditions, street closures and emergencies:

• Notify Chicago: Sign up for emergency 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

For information on the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), we encourage residents to download the Chicago OEMC app, visit the OEMC website at   Chicago.gov/OEMC. Sign-up to receive Notify Chicago alerts Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook(@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), Bluesky (@chicagooemc.bsky.social) and Threads (@chicago_oemc_911).