The Scream Club: Chicago’s Unconventional Stress Relief Tradition Echoes Across Lake Michigan

A New Stress-Relief Ritual Emerges in Chicago

On the vibrant shoreline of Lake Michigan, a unique phenomenon has quietly grown into a hallmark of communal expression and stress relief in Chicago. Each Sunday evening, as the sun dips behind the city’s iconic skyline, hundreds gather at North Avenue Beach Pier for what is known as "The Scream Club"—an event where participants channel their frustrations, anxieties, or hopes into the open air, screaming in synchrony toward the wind and water.

This unconventional practice, first conceived by breathwork practitioner Manny Hernandez and his partner Elena Soboleva during the long Chicago winter, has rapidly grown from a quiet, private ritual into a thrumming communal event—testament to the need for creative and accessible mental health outlets in urban communities.

Origins of The Scream Club: From Private Ritual to Public Movement

The embryonic version of The Scream Club occurred on frigid winter nights, when Hernandez and Soboleva sought solace from the stresses of everyday life by vocalizing their frustrations at the water’s edge. It was a cathartic act: an attempt to find release in a world that often demands composure, even when pressure mounts relentlessly.

Recognizing the power and potential of this practice, the pair began inviting others. Word spread quickly—through friends, and then through social media. Soon, what began as a private coping mechanism had become a weekly gathering for scores, and then hundreds, all seeking a safe space to let go.

Ritual Structure and Symbolism

The Scream Club relies on simple but powerful rituals to create a sense of belonging, safety, and intentionality:

• Each Sunday, participants gather on the beach at around 7 p.m., trading nervous glances, nodding to newcomers, and checking the lake’s horizon.
• Before the scream, Hernandez or a volunteer leads a short breathwork session, calming the body and focusing the mind.
• Participants write down intentions, burdens, or frustrations—anything they wish to symbolically release—on small pieces of biodegradable paper.
• At 7:15 p.m., the group walks together to the pier. On cue, a wave of collective screams rolls across the water, punctuated by laughter, tears, and sometimes even applause.
• Finally, the slips of paper are thrown into Lake Michigan. The water swallows the notes—an act meant to represent letting go, renewal, and the acceptance that some stresses are out of our control.

Historical Context: A Tradition in the Making

While the scene may appear singularly modern, the act of communal screaming has historic precedents. Throughout history, cultures have gathered for collective rituals designed to process grief, relieve anxiety, or foster a sense of connection. From ancient ceremonies meant to expel evil spirits, to the cathartic, group-based primal scream therapy popularized in the 1970s, the impulse to scream in solidarity has roots in the universal need to verbalize and publicly shed pain or tension.

Within the context of contemporary urban life, however, The Scream Club stands out for its accessibility and lack of pretense. There are no tickets, no clinical fees, and no requirements for participation—just a willingness to share, however briefly, the raw edge of emotion.

Why This Matters: Stress, Mental Health, and Urban Life

Chicago, like many large American cities, has experienced rising stress and mental health challenges in recent years. Contributing factors range from inflation and economic uncertainty to work-related burnout, urban isolation, and global uncertainties that have reverberated through all aspects of daily life.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified such anxieties, disrupting routines and limiting familiar outlets for stress relief—such as gyms, concerts, and even casual socializing. Against this backdrop, The Scream Club’s open-air, judgment-free format offers a rare and valuable opportunity for city dwellers to process their feelings in community.

The Economic Impact of Mental Health Initiatives

While the club itself charges no fees, its presence in Chicago’s landscape is indicative of broader trends with deep economic implications. Mental health issues, exacerbated by pandemic-related disruptions and economic volatility, have led to soaring costs for healthcare providers, insurers, and individuals. According to national data, workplace absenteeism and lost productivity due to stress and burnout translate to billions in economic losses annually.

Grassroots, community-based initiatives—such as The Scream Club or neighborhood yoga in the park—serve as accessible alternatives or complements to professional care. Though informal, such interventions can help reduce the burden on healthcare systems by promoting proactive mental wellness. In turn, healthier, more connected communities are better equipped to handle the pressures and unpredictability of modern life.

A Regional Comparison: Similar Movements Across the Nation

What’s unfolding on the shores of Lake Michigan is not entirely unique to Chicago. Across the country, variations on "public screaming" or open emotional release gatherings have appeared from New York to Los Angeles:

• In Brooklyn, spontaneous "scream circles" have been organized in local parks, where participants gather, sometimes with drums or bells, to vocalize feelings of anger or frustration.
• On the West Coast, beach-based primal scream sessions are occasionally hosted in San Francisco and Santa Monica, drawing those seeking communal catharsis against the Pacific’s relentless waves.
• In Minneapolis and Austin, annual "Yell Fest" events invite attendees to vent into the night sky, often themed around collective experiences of grief or transition.

What sets The Scream Club apart in Chicago is its consistency—the weekly ritual has become a fixture, rather than a novelty. Its emphasis on breathwork, intention-setting, and symbolic paper tossing creates a sense of narrative and closure for participants week after week.

Public Reaction and Community Response

On social media, images and videos of crowds screaming at Lake Michigan have garnered thousands of likes and comments. Many express surprise, amusement, or curiosity at the spectacle; others respond with empathy and recognition, identifying with the need for emotional release in a tense world.

Attendees describe feelings of liberation, joy, and vulnerability. Some report that the simple act of screaming in public—a taboo, for many—brings a rush of adrenaline and a profound sense of relief. Others describe the experience as deeply emotional, sometimes leaving them in tears, but accompanied by a sense of being "lighter" for days afterward.

City officials and local mental health advocates, meanwhile, have observed the phenomenon with cautious approval. While unsanctioned gatherings can sometimes raise logistical or safety concerns, The Scream Club has—so far—maintained a safe, respectful, and environmentally sensitive approach, encouraging the use of biodegradable materials and leaving familiar city landmarks unchanged but for their brief echo.

A New Urban Tradition

As summer draws crowds to North Avenue Beach, The Scream Club is already a Chicago institution for many. Its perennial invitation remains simple: come, breathe, scream, and let go—no appointment necessary.

The practice resonates in the context of Chicago’s enduring history as a city of resilience and reinvention. Against the vast expanse of Lake Michigan, the sound of dozens or even hundreds of voices raised in release is now as much a part of the evening air as the cries of gulls or distant city sirens.

In a world where urban pressures often demand silent endurance, The Scream Club offers something different: a collective promise that, at least for one moment each week, it’s both acceptable and necessary to be heard.