Pokémon Go Fest kicks off Thursday: Here’s what you need to know

The third annual gathering for fans of the popular app-based augmented reality game spans four days in Grant Park.

The third annual Pokémon Go Fest kicks off Thursday in Grant Park.

The gathering for fans of the popular app-based augmented reality game starts 11 a.m. Thursday and runs through 7 p.m. Sunday.

Planning to catch ’em all this weekend? Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the 2019 Pokémon Go Fest:

How to get there

The nearest CTA train stations are the Jackson stop on the Blue Line, the Harold Washington Library stop on the Brown, Orange and Pink Lines and the Roosevelt Station on the Red Line.

Street closures

East Jackson between South Columbus and Lakeshore Drive and East Balbo between South Columbus and Lake Shore Drive will be closed.

Weather

Thursday: High of 68 degrees with a low of 52 degrees. Slight chance of rain.

Friday: High of 77 degrees, low of 62. Sunny with a chance of showers at night.

Saturday: High of 77 degrees , low of 60. Thunderstorms likely.

Sunday: High of 73 degrees, low of 55. Chance of thunderstorms.

Food and water

Attendees are permitted to bring in prepackaged food and bottled water. The festival will have food trucks and concession stands for those who want to buy food.

The food trucks will be stationed at East Jackson between South Columbus and Lake Shore Drive and East Balbo Drive between South Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive.

Concessions will be available at tents in both Butler and Hutchinson Field.

If you need to fill up a water bottle, you can do that in Butler Filed, Buckingham and Hutchinson Field.

Prohibited items

• Large Backpacks (no frames or camping gear)
• Cigarettes, E-Cigs or Vaping devices
• Aerosol containers (including sunscreen and personal beauty products)
• Any and all professional audio recording equipment
• Any and all professional video equipment
• Camera accessories, such as selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, go pro mounts and attachments, or other commercial equipment
• Drones or any other remote flying device
• Totems, Flags, Banners
• Coolers of any kind (exceptions may be made for medical use)
• Framed backpacks
• Hammocks
• Glass Containers
• Weapons or explosives of any kind (including firearms, pocket knives, pepper spray, fireworks, etc.)
• Illegal and Illicit substances of any kind
• Drugs or drug paraphernalia
• Alcohol of any kind
• Professional-grade radios or walkie-talkies
• Pets (except for service animals)
• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts (including red wagons) or any personal motorized vehicles
• Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind
• Preparation or cooking of food onsite
• Please do not affix anything to the trees or shrubs
• Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors are not allowed. No unauthorized solicitation and materials including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, give-aways, samples, etc.
• No chairs of any kind