<p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/07/16/wildfire-smoke-prompts-air-quality-alert-for-most-of-chicago-area-to" >Dangerous air pollution</a> caused by hundreds of raging wildfires in Canada continued to impact events and outdoor activities across the Chicago area Friday.</p><p>Many concerts, movies in the parks, sporting events and other activities had already been canceled Thursday due to the hazardous air that threatened public health.</p><p>The city’s beaches and all 50 outdoor pools were still shuttered after closing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many suburban beaches also were shut down.</p><p>Chicago Park District day camps were moved indoors. Chicago Public Schools also moved all programming indoors.</p><p>The following is a partial list; if you're headed somewhere on Friday, make sure to call ahead to check with the venue or event promoter to make sure it's still happening.</p><h3>Venues, events and other activities shut down Friday:</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-8c71b680-81f1-11f1-bc2e-6188ec8dca23"><li>The Morton Arboretum</li><li>Osaka Garden</li><li>Garfield Park Conservatory</li><li>Lincoln Park Conservatory</li><li>Chicago Architecture Center</li><li>Chicago beaches</li><li>Evanston beaches and summer camps</li><li>Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor</li></ul><h3>Events that shut down on Thursday:</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-8c71b681-81f1-11f1-bc2e-6188ec8dca23"><li>The Black Keys concert at The Salt Shed</li><li>El Rando concert at Kennedy Park</li><li>Millennium Park Summer Music Series</li><li>The Grant Park Music Festival "String Fellows" </li><li>All Night Out in the Parks events and Movies in the Parks scheduled for Thursday</li><li>Osaka Garden, Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory all closed early</li><li>Six Flags Great America closed early on Thursday</li><li>Lincoln Square farmers market</li><li>Chicago Botanic Garden</li><li>Suburban events, including Food Truck Thursdays in Highland Park and Thursday Night Out in Oak Park</li><li>Chicago Architecture Center outdoor walking tours were canceled, though the Chicago River tours were still going late Thursday afternoon.