When it takes more than a century to achieve a monumental goal the celebration has to attract millions of people, lots of speeches and selfies and photos for the album and social media. In other words, joyous crowds will carpet the parade route and rally. What you need to know is where to go and how.
By now you probably heard or figured the fabulous 2016 World Championship Cubs will be coming downtown from Wrigley Field, today, Nov. 4, 2016. They start off at 10 a.m. and will end at Grant Park.
But what you need to know is that there are designated viewing areas: ballpark, Magnificent Mile and Grant Park.
Near the park it is Addison Street from Sheffield to Pine Grove Avenues. About 11 a.m. on the Mag Mile the parade is best viewed from Oak to Ohio Streets. At Grant Park it is Columbus Drive from Monroe to Balbo Drives.
Between viewing areas the parade vehicles will be going faster. The rally celebration will be at Lower Hutchinson Field about noon.
If you know Chicago, and there are thousands of fans in town from out of Illinois who don’t know that driving to the viewing areas and downtown is NOT a good idea even on a normal day, so you take the L and Metra trains. Buses are going but are rerouted.
Metra is doing its weekend $5 ticket all day Nov. 4. Just know that no bikes and alcohol will be allowed. There are extra trains running but if full they may pass your station so wait for the next one.
It may seem as if you have plenty of time but fans have already been gathering along the route so if not watching on TV, leave now, plan to celebrate downtown (the bars, restaurants and hotels are prepared for crowds, and return later.
Go Cubs Go!
