BTS at Soldier Field, House Music Fest & Conference, Taste of Greektown, Edison Park Fest, The Fray & Dashboard Confessional, Reds @ Cubs Headline Weekend Special Events in Chicago

Summer Safety Resources for Social Media, Newsletters, and More

CHICAGO - With many festivals, concerts, and athletic events this weekend, the City of Chicago is advising residents and visitors to be aware of street closures, additional crowds, increased traffic and to plan accordingly. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is reminding residents and visitors of security measures in place and stresses 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.

The City of Chicago will have citywide deployments for the weekend to ensure the safety and security of the public. The OEMC will also coordinate security efforts and resources 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. City of Chicago :: If You See Something, Say Something

Chicago OEMC App and CHI Safe Walk

By downloading the OEMC App, residents and event attendees can utilize the CHI Safe Walk feature that allows you to temporarily share your location with a trusted family member or friend who can track your whereabouts until you arrive at your destination safely. Should you or someone you know need emergency assistance, you are able to screenshot and share with 911 call takers and dispatchers the last known location of the person you are trying to help.

BTS @ Soldier Field

Thursday - Friday, August 27 - 28, 6:00 p.m.

Pop Royalty BTS announce their long-awaited return to the global stage with their world tour spanning 2026-2027. Set to be the biggest global K-pop tour of all time, and the largest of their career to date, the run will span 34 regions and 79 shows, featuring first-ever performances in several cities and marking a historic new chapter for the group and their global fanbase. For more information, please visit: BTS - Soldier Field

House Music Festival & Conference

Thursday - Sunday, August 27 - 30

The Chicago House Music Festival & Conference celebrates Chicago's enduring global impact as the birthplace of House music through four days of free performances, dance, education and community programming at Millennium Park and across downtown Chicago. The 2026 festival includes a citywide kickoff at Daley Plaza, SummerDance in Grant Park, the Chicago House Music Conference at the Chicago Cultural Center, the return of the Chicago House Dance Summit and a closing celebration along the Chicago Riverwalk. For more information including locations and times, please visit: House Music Festival & Conference

Taste of Greektown

Friday, August 28, 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Saturday - Sunday, August 29 - 30, 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

36th Annual Taste of Greektown takes over Halsted Street in Chicago's vibrant West Loop! Renowned as the heart of the city's Greek restaurant scene, this iconic stretch of Halsted has been delighting locals and visitors with authentic flavors and lively traditions for decades. Taste of Greektown will be on Halsted from Adams to Van Buren. For more information, please visit: Taste of Greektown

PAWS Chicago 5K Walk/Run for Their Lives

Saturday, August 29, 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

The PAWS Chicago 5K Walk/Run for Their Lives is Chicago's largest dog-friendly charity event, and it's a day of fun, dog agility courses, raffles, entertainment, treats, and more. Whether you plan to run, walk, or simply enjoy the comradery, you'll be surrounded by a community of fellow animal lovers-all while raising critical funds to help pets in need. The walk/run happens at Montrose Harbor - Grove 16. For more information, please visit: PAWS 5K Walk/Run for Their Lives

Edgewater Music Fest

Friday, August 28, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Saturday - Sunday, August 29 - 30, 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

The Edgewater Music Festival kicks off this Friday through Sunday with street closures on Broadway from Thorndale to Ardmore. For more information, please visit: Edgewater Music Fest

Edison Park Fest

Friday, August 28, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Saturday, August 29, 12:00 p.m. - 10 p.m., and Sunday, August 30, 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Edison Park Fest began in 1972 as a sidewalk sale on Northwest Highway. Since then, it has grown into one of the most popular neighborhood street festivals in Chicago. This annual community fundraiser welcomes nearly 20,000 attendees throughout the weekend. There will be street closures on North Olmstead Avenue, North Oliphant Avenue, and North Oshkosh Avenue in Edison Park. For more information, please visit: Edison Park Fest

The Fray & Dashboard Confessional

Saturday, August 29, 6:45 p.m.

Enjoy top tier pop rock and emo as The Fray and Dashboard Confessional bring the Huntington Bank Pavilion to life. For more information, please visit: The Fray & Dashboard Confessional

Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs

Friday, August 28, 1:20 p.m., Saturday, August 29, 1:20 p.m., Sunday, August 30, 6:20 p.m.

The Cincinnati Reds visit Wrigley Field for a three game weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. For more details, please visit: Reds vs. Cubs

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks

Wednesday, August 26, 9:00 p.m., Saturday, August 29, 10:00 p.m.

Experience Navy Pier's free, award-winning fireworks with dazzling displays over the lake and iconic skyline views. Enjoy the spectacular display every Wednesday at 9 PM and Saturday at 10 PM, free from May 23rd to September 5th. For more information, please visit: Summer Fireworks | Navy Pier

Pole Markes / 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.

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. 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 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 and issues affecting businesses:

• 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 additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook(facebook.com/ChicagoOEMC), TikTok (@ChicagoOEMC), X (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), Bluesky (@chicagooemc.bsky.social) and Threads (@chicago_oemc_911).