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Chicago Air & Water Show
Date: Saturday, August 20 & Sunday, August 21
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., both days
Location: North Avenue Beach
The Chicago Air and Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. and the City of Chicago is the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. The show can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point.
Fun Facts about the Air & Water Show:
The majority of planes flying in the show takes off and land at the Gary Jet Center in Gary, Indiana.
Some of the military planes fly in from bases around the mid-west. They time their flight to fly over the show at an exact moment.
14 federal, state and city agencies work together to put the show on safely each year.
All pilots perform stunts over the water in a set safety area. When a plane does fly over buildings, it is merely doing so in its flight path to return to the show area or the airport.
On average, 2 million people view the show annually.
At 56, the Chicago Air and Water Show is longest running free show of its kind in the United States.
In 1959, the show cost $88 dollars to put on. Today, with the help of generous corporate sponsors like Shell, Boeing, American Airlines, WBBM Newsradio, ABC 7, The Chicago Tribune, Oracle among others help to make the show possible and FREE to the public.
When the show was held at Lakeshore Park between Ohio and Oak Street beach, Lake Shore Drive was sometimes closed.
Also at Lakeshore Park, the Golden Knights didn’t have a beach to land on so they landed in the Water. Chicago Park District Lifeguards fished them out of the water.
Herb Hunter (“The Voice” of the Air and Water Show) used to fly in the show before becoming the show announcer over 20 years ago. For many years he flew the USAF KC-135.
Check out this video of Jen’s secret viewing spot last year (don’t camp out here though because it is just for customers).
Traffic Alert: LaSalle Drive from Clark Street to Lake Shore Drive.
Inner Lake Shore Drive from LaSalle to Burton Place.
North Avenue and Fullerton Avenue exits on North Lake Shore Drive intersection of North and Clark.
White Sox Play at Home w/ Connor McKnight at the Xfinity Zone on Saturday
Date: Friday, August 19 – Sunday, August 21
Location: U.S. Cellular Field
The Xfinity pre-game broadcast is hosted by our pre and post-game on-air talent, Connor McKnight.
Sox fans attending the game on Saturday are invited to stop in the Xfinity Zone (located near section 109) to watch the pregame show live, roughly 30 minutes before first pitch.
WLS-AM will have logo gear to hand out to fans on-site!
Clark After Dark
Date: Thursday, August 18
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: On Clark Street in River North
An explanation from the organizer’s website: The USO of Illinois, through the support of Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward , Boss Bar, and StarEvents give summer its last “HOO-AH!” by rocking the block at Clark After Dark. The USO of Illinois’ annual Clark After Dark block party celebrates America’s military service members and their families. Proceeds from the event benefit the USO of Illinois program and services that serve over 330,000 military personnel and military families of Illinois.
The event will feature live music by 16 Candles (voted Chicago’s best cover band!), Liquidated Damages, Military and Vintage Military vehicle displays, food and drink specials, raffle, and much more! USO Clark after Dark is held in River North, at 420 N. Clark St on W. Hubbard Street, between N. Clark and N. Lasalle.
A non-profit organization, the USO of Illinois is fully supported by the generosity of the American people. The USO’s Clark After Dark gives Chicagoans an opportunity to support U.S. Armed Forces members and show their appreciation.
Public Transportation:
Trains – Red Line to Grand or the Brown Line to Merchandise Mart
Buses – #22, #36, #65, #156
Traffic Alert: Hubbard Street closed between Clark and LaSalle.
Festa Italiana
Date: Thursday, August 18 – Sunday, August 21
Time: Thursday from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday from noon to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Little Italy
From ChooseChicago.com: Longtime family-owned restaurants and neighborhood newcomers will serve up some of the best food in the city. Italian and Italian-American singers will perform American and Italian classics. An Italian dance ensemble will perform and teach the tarantella, a well-loved Italian folk dance performed at Italian weddings. Fest-goers will have the opportunity to play Italian card games, compete in contests to see who can consume the most meatballs and cannoli (of course, not at the same time!), and buy Italian-themed art, Christmas ornaments and other merchandises.
The Fest will also offer trolley tours of Little Italy, Chicago’s oldest Italian neighborhood, which was a gateway for thousands of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century.
Traffic Alert: Taylor Street closed from Racine to Ashland beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday for set up. Closures will be in place until 6:00 a.m. on Monday.
Edison Park Festival
Date: Friday, August 19 – Sunday, August 21
Location: Edison Park, Chicago
Get there with the #68 or #88 CTA bus.
Wizard World Comic Con
Date: Thursday, August 18 – Sunday, August 21
Time: Thursday – 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday – 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday – 10:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Donald E. Stevens Convention Center, Rosemont
Wizard World comic and gaming con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.
Wizard World Comic Con Chicago is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday night.
For more on the 2016 Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, visit www.wizardworld.com/wizcon.
Some of the celebrities to be sighted at the event include:
Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson
Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Carrie Fisher (Star Wars)
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)
Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead)
The cast of Netflix’s “Marvel’s Daredevil” including Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/The Punisher), Elodie Yung (Elektra Natchios), and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple), and more.
Parking is located across from the center directly behind the Embassy Suites Hotel O’Hare (garage parking is $15.00) – Proceed West on Williams street under the parking structure and turn into entrance. Do not enter parking garage via the Embassy Suites Hotel O’Hare driveway or entrance, as these parking spaces are reserved for hotel guests, and violators are subject to towing at their own expense.
Taking the Blue Line is optimal – only a couple block walk from the Rosemont Blue Line “L” station.
Ramblin’ Ray Stevens Pick of the Weekend – Batavia High School Corn Boil
Date: Friday, August 19
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Batavia High School
The annual corn boil community event is held in August during the first week of school. Spiritwear, Booster memberships, Sponsorships and so much more is available. Marching Band, Dance and Cheer entertain the fans. Entry to the event is free. Tickets for meal will be available online and at the door.
Everyone is invited. Proceeds benefit Batavia High School & Rotolo Middle School Athletic Programs.
For more information, visit the Batavia Bulldog Boosters.
Other Events:
via festing.com
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
Metra is planning extra service on Aug. 20 and 21 to accommodate those attending the 58th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach and along the city’s lakefront.
Customers arriving at Metra’s Union Station or Millennium Park Station can board the CTA’s No. 151 buses to Oak Street and North Avenue beaches.
The No. 151 buses are also within walking distance of the Ogilvie Transportation Center and Metra’s LaSalle Street Station.
Metra is offering the $8 Weekend Pass that allows unlimited rides for anyone over the age of 11-years-old. Up to three children under the age of 11 can ride with an adult for FREE through Labor Day.
BLUE, GREEN, BROWN, ORANGE LINES
Increased Capacity for Air & Water Show – Saturday and Sunday
Blue Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Forest Park and O’Hare, 7am to 6:30pm each day.
Brown Line: Longer trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop, 7am to 6:30pm each day.
Green Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Harlem/Lake and Ashland/63rd-Cottage Grove, 7am to 6:30pm each day.
Orange Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Midway and the Loop, 7am to 6:30pm each day.
Buy your fare in advance! Avoid long lines after the parade by buying 1-Day Ventra Tickets (at stations) or loading round-trip value or a pass to your card (online, at over 1,000 retailers or at stations), in advance.
Use Your Mobile Wallet – If you’re only taking a single ride (no transfer), skip vending machine lines and use Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay, or a contactless bankcard, on the bus or ‘L’ turnstile reader (PAYG fare applies).
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
The Air & Water Show is always an event that attracts large traffic backups and delays. In addition, parking is severely limited on the Chicago Lakefront. Roadways with the highest impact, and to avoid include, North Avenue, Fullerton or Irving Park Roads. Lake Shore Drive will have significant delays to exit at each of those streets. Taking public transportation from the suburbs or utilizing the CTA is ideal.
Ohio Street Bridge
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced a full closure of the Ohio Feeder (I 90/94) this Sunday from 12:00 to 6:00am. The full closure is required for the maintenance and testing of the Ohio Street Bridge. The bridge will reopen to traffic at 6am so that visitors can reach the Air and Water Show venue early enough to save their viewing spots
Closures:
- WB Ohio Feeder Ramp at Orleans (from Orleans to the Kennedy)
- Kennedy Ramps:
- EB Ohio Feeder Ramp from the Westbound Kennedy Local
- EB Ohio Feeder Ramp from the Kennedy Reversible Lanes
- WB Ohio Feeder Ramp from the Westbound Kennedy Local
Detours:
- Westbound on Ontario Street, take Northbound on Orleans Street, then West on Division Street, then back onto Kennedy
- Kennedy Ohio Feeder Detours:
- Westbound on the Kennedy Exit on Milwaukee Avenue (Exit 49B), then Southeast on Milwaukee Avenue to Chicago Avenue, then East on Chicago, then South on Orleans Street, then East on Ohio Street.
- Eastbound on the Kennedy Exit on Washington Boulevard (Exit 51C), then East on Washington Boulevard, then North on Franklin Street (which become Orleans Street after the river), then East on Ohio Street.
Western Avenue Bridge
Western Ave. will close at 11:59pm Friday, August 19 between 31st and 35th through 11:59pm Sunday, August 21 for necessary maintenance of the bridge structure. The road will open to full traffic during the week and then close again for work next weekend (Aug. 27-28)
