O'Hare, Midway airports, roads expecting busy Labor Day weekend travel day
Ground stop briefly issued at O'Hare for thunderstorms
CHICAGO (WLS) -- If you are hitting the road for the long Labor Day weekend, expect a lot of company!
Experts say this holiday weekend could be the busiest Labor day travel period on record.
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The rush was on at O'Hare Friday morning.
"It feels really fast," Candace Weiner, who is traveling to Las Vegas, said. "So I'm very happy. The traffic out there and the accidents, let me tell ya."
The TSA preparing to screen millions across the country while here at home airport officials say *1.4 million travelers are expected to pass through O'Hare during the Labor Day weekend period.
"Be patient and be kind," Emmy Szymaszek said. "Everyone is doing their best."
Long lines could be seen during the early morning travel rush and a temporary ground stop halted air traffic.
"We're probably two and a half hours early," Walker Harris, who is traveling to Hawaii, said. "We have some old friends who are going to meet us here."
But, the busiest day at O'Hare isn't Friday, it's Monday - Labor Day.
Travelers Friday morning with good advice for those getting ready to fly this weekend.
"Get here on time," Enrique Espinal, who is traveling to Las Vegas, said. "Make sure you are checked in. They have apps and all these things to kind of help you get ahead of the game now."
"Just be safe, cautious," Rosa Mary Stansbury, who is traveling to San Antonio, said. "Make sure you keep your belongings near you and arrive on time. Be cautious with your time because we already had a delay."
At Midway, airport officials there say Friday is going to be the busiest day of the holiday weekend, with nearly 60,000 people expected to pass through. That's a three percent increase from last year.
There are also millions planning to drive to their destinations.
AAA says drivers can expect to pay less this year, compared to Labor Day last year, with the national average hovering at around $3.35 a gallon, about 45 cents a gallon less than last year.
SEE ALSO: Labor Day traffic and travel: Best and worst times to drive and fly
"Typically with any holiday 85-90 percent of travelers go by car it's the most convenient and likely the most cost effective for a family," Jana Tidwell of AAA said.
If you are planning on hitting the roads Friday, AAA says the best time to leave is before noon. You can expect the worst traffic this afternoon and evening.
If you're heading south from the city, the Southland Oasis has a newly renovated visitor's center that shows you everything from vents to restaurants to hotels to even nature walks you can do in the area.
"So we're looking for things to do in that area. And I can also go in if I want to stay. I can look at hotels in the area," said Rolanda Hudson, Visit Chicago Southland information specialist. "This is wonderful because these are resources that you don't necessarily know, that are available."
Festivals celebrate end of summer over Labor Day Weekend
Twenty-four restaurants will be represented in the Taste of Schaumburg, part of the Schaumburg Septemberfest. Moretti's has participated since they started this celebration more than 50 years ago.
"This is probably one of the biggest festivals I've seen in the area," said Jim Rosato of Moretti's.
The long Labor Day weekend is traditionally a popular time for outdoor festivals. Schaumburg's includes carnival rides crafts and a huge stage hosting big name artists playing live music. They draw more than 100,000 people from throughout the Midwest.
"It's a great end of the summer to celebrate and enjoy that fall's on the way and football lies about to start. But we've got great entertainment here for the northwest burbs," said Eric Todd of Schaumburg Septemberfest.
And since the Labor Day weekend traditionally signals the unofficial end of summer, they call the big festival in Naperville The Last Fling, and they end the summer in style with huge crowds for food music and lots of musical entertainment.
There is plenty to do in the city of course; lots of music with Jazzfest already underway. And along the lakefront there's the chance to see several Olympians as professional beach volleyball makes a stop in Chicago.
Long Grove also hosts Irishfest, noting that Labor Day is halfway to St. Patrick's Day, so it's everything Irish all weekend in the northwest suburb.
"Most of the people who come here have been to Ireland or their families are from Ireland," said Irishfest emcee John Kopecky.
