From the Bud Billiken Parade to the Northalsted Market Days festival, hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to descend upon Chicago this weekend.
Organizers from both events were busy on Friday getting ready for a packed weekend. More than 200,000 revelers are expected to visit a six-block stretch of Halsted for Market Days, organizers said.
You’ll want to prepare for delays on Saturday, especially in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Several CTA bus routes are being detoured because of the popular Bud Billiken parade.
King Drive will be closed as paradegoers make the two-and-a-half mile journey. The festivities are expected to start at 10 a.m.
Myiti Sengstacke, producer of the Bud Billiken parade, said there will be plenty of cooling and first aid stations, along with extra security.
“Everyone's going to be cautious, but also enjoy the day,” she said.
Multiple other events are taking place this weekend, including the Backstreet Boys concert on Saturday night at the United Center, and the Hot Dog Fest in Lincoln Park.
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If you’re planning to head out and about, the city’s Office of Emergency Management advises you to be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity.
