OEMC Offers Halloween Tips to Trick-or-Treat and Events Throughout the City including the Upside-Down Parade and the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

With Halloween events and trick-or-treating citywide, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is reminding everyone to be safe and alert, especially in crowds and report suspicious activity to 9-1-1. OEMC also is encouraging motorists and trick-or-treaters to be cognizant of the traffic when travelling through the neighborhoods.

CTA Loop Elevated Service

Beginning 4 a.m. Saturday, October 25, until 2 a.m., Monday, October 27, Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines will undergo a temporary linecut, and all Loop elevated stations (Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Washington/Wabash, Adams/Wabash, H.W. Library, LaSalle/Van Buren, Quincy and Washington/Wells) will be closed. Service along the Red and Blue lines is unaffected. CTA will operate two shuttle bus routes that are free for affected riders. For complete details, visit TransitChicago.com

Halloween and trick-or-treating safety tips include:

• Download the Chicago OEMC App for the latest weather conditions and emergency alerts at gov/oemc or visit the Apple or Google Play stores.
• Use the CHI Safe Walk in the Chicago OEMC App to share your walk with friends or family virtually to monitor your location in real-time.
• Use the buddy system so a child doesn't get left behind or mixed in with other groups.
• Trick-or-Treaters should carry a flashlight, glowstick or utilize reflective tape.
• Take a digital photo of your kids in the event of an emergency
• Make sure your child's costume is safe i.e., fire retardant, mask with proper ventilation, easy movement, etc.
• Know who your children are trick-or-treating with and their contact information.
• If you see any suspicious activity, call 9-1-1.
• Creating a comprofile for your household is a great idea to provide 9-1-1 with important information to assist in an emergency. Smart911 is a free service that allows you to create a safety profile for your family, which includes information like children, pets, health conditions, home address, and more. It is an essential part of any Halloween or everyday safety plan. For more tips and more information on Smart911 Smart911_HalloweenCostume_Flyer

Upside Down Parde - Washington Park

Saturday, October 25 at Noon

The annual Upside-Down Parade will take place in Washington Park and stepping off at noon. Assembly begins at 10 a.m. at Payne Drive and Midway Plaisance Drives and will march northbound on Russell Drive from Best Drive to Morgan Drive. For complete details, visit

ArtsintheDark.com/Upside-Down-Parade/

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade,

Friday, October 31
The 2025 Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade events begin at 6:30 p.m., with the parade step off at 7:30 p.m. at Halsted and Belmont and proceeds to Halsted and Cornelia for the 8:30 p.m. awards show and event conclusion at 10 p.m. For complete details, visit northalsted.com/main-events/haunted-halsted-halloween-parade/.

Carrera de los Muertos® / Race of the Dead - Pilsen

Saturday, November 1.

Carrera de los Muertos 5K is Saturday, November 2 in the Pilsen neighborhood and starts at 8 a.m. at Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450-1510 W. Cermak Rd. Expect street closures

in the area including Blue Island, Laflin, 21^st Street, Paulina, Wood, 16^th Street, Newberry, 18^th Street and Throop Street. For complete details, visit unochicago.org/la-carrera.

Report Suspicious Activity: If You See Something, Say Something™ OEMC reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity - especially in large gatherings. 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.

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 the lakefront. The green signs with white letters and numbers are also located from 5700 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive to 6600 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and at various points along the lakefront from Oak Street to Fullerton and Montrose to Foster Avenue to help residents reference their location within the park to friends, family and first responders if there is an emergency and you call 9-1-1.

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 the Chicago OEMC app.

OEMC issues alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on weather conditions and emergencies.

• Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at 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 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), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), Bluesky (@chicagooemc.bsky.social) and Threads (@chicago_oemc_911).

# # #

About the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)

Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) oversees a number of 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. In 2025, the OEMC marks 30 years serving the residents of the City of Chicago. OEMC is committed to closely partnering with local, regional, state, and federal partners to achieve seamless integration and complementary missions.