Taste of Chicago Street Closures Around Grant Park Begin This Week

By the Editorial Team · Monday, June 29, 2026

Chicago officials have initiated multiple street closures near Grant Park starting June 29 to prepare for the Taste of Chicago Festival, which runs from July 8 to July 12. These closures, including full shutdowns of Columbus Avenue, Ida B. Wells Drive, and Jackson Drive, aim to support event setup and manage large visitor crowds, with all streets reopening by July 13.

Preparations for the upcoming Taste of Chicago Festival have prompted a series of street closures around Grant Park beginning this week. The festival is scheduled to take place from July 8 to July 12.

Starting at 6 a.m. on Monday, June 29, the curb lanes on Columbus Avenue will be closed between Monroe Street and Balbo Drive, according to the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication. This partial closure will escalate to a full street closure on the same segment of Columbus Avenue at 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 2. At that time, Ida B. Wells Drive will also close completely from Columbus Avenue to the semicircle.

Further closures will take effect on Sunday, July 5, when Jackson Drive will be fully closed from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive starting at 6 a.m. Concurrently, Columbus Avenue will be entirely closed from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road.

All affected streets are scheduled to reopen to traffic at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 13, following the conclusion of the festival. These closures are intended to facilitate event setup, ensure public safety, and accommodate the anticipated crowds attending this annual Chicago event.

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