Arts & Entertainment
Who’s Afraid of NASCAR Traffic? Downtown Museums and Parks Will Be Open During Chicago Street Race
Sue the T. Rex at Chicago's Field Museum. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
A long holiday weekend is a great opportunity for Chicagoans to play tourist in their hometown, but with the NASCAR Street Race set to circle Grant Park July 6-7, what’s even open to visit?
Almost everything, provided folks can navigate the street and sidewalk closures.
Here’s the status of some of Chicago’s top attractions.
Millennium Park
— Open, including The Bean (aka Cloud Gate), its newly restored plaza, Crown Fountain and Lurie Garden.
— The Grant Park Orchestra will perform July 3-5 at the Pritzker Pavilion, including the traditional July 4 “Independence Day Salute.”
— Parking garages will be open: Millennium Lakeside, Millennium Park and Grant Park North.
Chicago Park District
— The Lakefront Path is open.
— Maggie Daley Park is open.
— Grant Park tennis and pickleball courts will be closed.
Museum Campus
— Field Museum is open regular hours.
— Adler Planetarium is open regular hours.
— Shedd Aquarium is opening late and closing early.
— The Art Institute of Chicago is open, though the North and South Gardens as well as a handful of spaces and amenities will be closed.
— Water taxis will continue to operate between Navy Pier and Museum Campus.
— The sidewalk on the west side of Michigan Avenue will remain open to pedestrians.
Getting There
The 2.2-mile NASCAR course runs along some of the city’s most iconic and picturesque roadways, which makes for great TV but not so great traffic.
The street closures most likely to affect visitors to any of the above attractions include sections of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and Roosevelt Road.
NASCAR’s “Chicago Local Guide” has maps recommending access routes for various points of interest — whether driving from the north, south or west — as well as alternate transportation suggestions.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
