People walking along North Avenue Beach in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood often witness an unusual sight on Sunday evenings during the warmer months. The Chicago Scream Club, founded last year by Emanuel Hernandez and Elena Soboleva, brings together a community of up to 300 people who scream out over Lake Michigan as a form of stress release and communal catharsis.

The idea began after Hernandez and Soboleva had an argument. Hernandez recalled, “One day we were walking by the lake, and I said: ‘Do you want to just go scream into the lake?’ And she said: ‘You know, yes, but, like, what if people were around?’” When others nearby joined in with enthusiasm, responding “Hell yeah,” the couple’s spontaneous screaming session turned into a weekly event.

By the sixth week, more than 300 people were attending. Hernandez, a breathwork practitioner, men’s coach, and fitness coach, explained that screaming with others gives participants confidence to express themselves freely. Soboleva, a branding consultant who moved to the US from Russia in 2011, noted that the club has even been used for celebrations, such as a recent wedding where a bride and her friends screamed to mark the occasion.

The activity has gained traction beyond Chicago, with videos of the sessions going viral online, highlighting the growing appeal of this unique communal experience.

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