We hope you’re all as excited as we are about the return of the Chosen Few Picnic & Festival on July 2nd, and we look forward to finally celebrating our 30th Anniversary Picnic with you!  Unfortunately, we were blind-sided by some construction work in the area of the Picnic site related to the construction of the Obama Presidential Center. However, we want to commend the office of Alderman Leslie Hairston, the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Park District for working with us to modify the construction activity on the day of the Picnic and to develop a transportation plan that we hope will work well and result in minimal disruption for our attendees. We ask for your love, understanding and patience with some necessary modifications this year.

 

What Will Not Change?

The actual entrances to the Picnic will not change. We will have the same Main Gate, West Gate and East VIP Gate. Also, if you purchased a ticket package that includes parking in one of our parking lots  – the Hayes Lot, the Cornell Lot, or the 63rd Street Beach Lot – you will be able to access your assigned parking lot via the same entry points as before, as further explained below

 

Avoid Southbound Du Sable

Lake Shore Drive After 57th Street

We urge you to avoid coming to the Picnic via southbound Du Sable Lake Shore Drive, which narrows to one lane south of 57th Street. In addition, because of construction, you can no longer turn onto Hayes Drive from Du Sable Lake Shore Drive. If you do take southbound Du Sable Lake Shore Drive, exit at 57th Street (Museum of Science & Industry) and take either Cornell Drive or Stony Island Avenue south to 63rd Street/Hayes Drive.  On the day of the Picnic, Hayes Drive will be re-directed as a one-way going east.

 

Drop Off

As Picnic veterans know, we allow cars to stop briefly during the morning hours to drop off grills, coolers, chairs, etc. The drop off this year will be on the north side of Hayes Drive between the Cornell parking lot and the “Golden Lady” statue at Richards Drive. The drop off area will be close to the West and Main entry gates, and you should use those gates after drop-off. After you drop off and return to your vehicle, you will proceed east on Hayes Drive and will be directed to turn right at the Golden Lady onto Richards Drive going south.  As in past years, drop off is allowed only until 11:00 am.

 

Cornell Parking Lot

If you purchased a ticket package that includes parking in the Cornell parking lot, that parking lot is on Hayes Drive just east of Cornell Drive. Access Hayes Drive from Cornell Drive or from 63rd Street as indicated above, and you can turn directly into the regular entrance into the Cornell parking lot.

 

Hayes Parking Lot

If you purchased a VIP Package or other ticket package that includes a parking space in the Hayes parking lot (also known as the “basketball court lot”), we urge you not to do drop off on Hayes Drive as described above, but to proceed to the Hayes lot where you can park near the East VIP entrance. Take Hayes Drive east past the drop off lane and when you get to the Golden Lady, show your Hayes lot parking pass to the attendant and you will be permitted to continue east on Hayes Drive until you reach the Hayes parking lot. No vehicles that do not have a Hayes lot parking pass will be allowed to continue east on Hayes Drive past the Golden Lady statue.

 

63rd Street Beach Parking Lot

If you purchased a ticket package that includes parking in the 63rd Street Beach lot, you should not try to access that lot via southbound Du Sable Lake Shore Drive – it can be done, but there is only one lane south of 57th Street and traffic will surely back up. Instead, we recommend one of two options: (1) take Hayes Drive to the Golden Lady (Richards Drive), then head south to Marquette Drive and turn left, then turn left onto Du Sable Lake Shore Drive and enter the Beach parking lot from northbound Du Sable Lake Shore Drive; or (2) take Stony Island Avenue to 67th Street, then 67th to Du Sable Lake Shore Drive, and enter the Beach parking lot from northbound Du Sable Lake Shore Drive.

 

Uber & Lyft

To the extent possible, we recommend that you walk or bike to the Picnic area or take a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft. The Uber and Lyft drop off and pick up point will be at 63rd Street and Harper Avenue (1 block west of Stony Island Avenue), a short walk from the Picnic site.

 

We hope the above travel advisory, and our recommendations, will make for a smooth entry into the Picnic. We’ll see you on July 2nd! House Music all night long!

Chosen Few DJs