The annual Hot Chocolate 5K, 10K. 15K and 2-mile walk is set for Saturday, November 5 with a start and finish in Grant Park. The run begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk at 8:15 a.m. The 5K, 10K, 15K route will take participants north on Columbus to Wacker Drive, through the Loop, south on Michigan Ave. to 31st Street, then south on MLK Drive to 35th street before heading back on the lakefront path to the finish just south of Balbo and Columbus. For complete details, visit HotChocolate15k.com.

Expect additional activity on Thursday (3 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Friday (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) at Navy Pier for the Hot Chocolate Expo, where over 26,000 participants will be picking up race day packets.

Street closures include:
• Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: through 5 p.m. Saturday, November 5
• Jackson from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: 2 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, November 5
• Balbo from Michigan to Columbus: 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 4.– 2 p.m., Saturday, November 5
• Columbus from Roosevelt to Ida B. Wells: 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 4–2 p.m., Saturday, November 5
• Jackson from Michigan to Columbus: 2 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, November 5
• Monroe from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: 2–10 a.m., Saturday, November 5
• Columbus from Ida B. Wells to Monroe: 2 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, November 5
• Ida B. Wells from Michigan to Columbus: 2 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, November 5
• Columbus from Monroe to Lower Wacker: 5:30–10 a.m., Saturday, November 5
For the complete route, visit Hot Chocolate Course Map on the race website or click Hot Chocolate street closures.

Fall Bridge Lifts and Boat Run
Also, on Saturday, the bridges from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Ashland will be lifted starting at 9 a.m. for the fall bridge lifts as boats return to storage. Motorists and pedestrians should be aware of the impact and seek alternate routes to avoid delay.

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) advises residents and visitors to be aware of street closures, additional crowds, and increased traffic in the area. As always, OEMC reminds everyone of the importance of always being aware of your surroundings and to report suspicious activity to on-site event security or by calling 9-1-1.

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 to 9-1-1. 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.

Citywide deployments for the weekend are planned in order to ensure the safety and security of the public. The OEMC will monitor events and weather conditions citywide from the Operations Center and coordinate public safety resources as needed., OEMC, Chicago Police Department and city departments collaborate to share communications regularly through daily coordination calls that allows for enhanced citywide coordination and activation of safety plans.

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.
• NotifyChicago alerts, sign up at NotifyChicago.org
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” 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 at TransitChicago.com 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 some areas of the lakefront. The green signs with white letters and numbers are located on DuSable Lake Shore Drive from 2400 North to 6600 South and on the lakefront from Oak Street to Fullerton and Montrose to Foster to help residents reference their location 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.