Screaming practice sessions held at North Avenue Beach by Scream Club Chicago
Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — A group that meets on the lakefront every weekend is hoping to make life a little easier.

You can say it’s a sort of therapy group and what they do is a little unorthodox.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

If you’re searching for serenity, the lakefront is a popular destination… except on Sunday nights at North Avenue Beach, where screams pierce through the peace and quiet.

The unusual ritual is courtesy of Scream Club Chicago, the brainchild of Manny Hernandez, a men’s transformational coach and breath work practitioner who recently moved to the city from Los Angeles

“You never have permission to scream in the middle of your apartment, because the police will get called, so I decided to start something where people can meet up,” Hernandez said.

Each week, more and more people join in the free activity, like Mamie Amin who brought her 5-year-old daughter.

“We’ve had a lot of change in our life lately, and my daughter has been feeling a lot of feelings, and I feel like it’s a really good thing for her to see grown ups handling all their sad, hard feelings in a healthy way,” Amin said.

Elena Soboleva is Scream Club Chicago’s co-founder, who says people can let it all out without judgment.

“It’s really a safe space, a community where you feel supported, you feel seen and a place to just be,” Soboleva said.

That’s what keeps Xander Ruvalcaba coming back each week.

“I attended one day, and it made me feel happy at the end of it, getting all that screaming out of my system,” Ruvalcaba said.

First, participants take deep breaths, then they throw into the water biodegradable pieces of paper where they’ve written what they’re frustrated about. Then they scream three times into the lake.

Hernandez says it’s not odd to see some tears.

“There’s things that happen in our everyday life that we don’t necessarily know how to deal with, and I think that we’re all just balls of energy of things that happen in our day to day lives, and we just hold on to that stuff a lot,” Hernandez said.

The group meets each Sunday at 7 p.m. near Castaways .

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Super Bowl 60: New England Patriots edge Denver Broncos to win AFC title, earn Super Bowl LX trip at Levi's Stadium

Patriots Triumph Over Broncos in Thrilling AFC Title Clash, Securing Spot in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium

DENVER — In a game marked by challenging snowy weather, Drake Maye…
The Real World star Puck is unrecognizable as he returns to spotlight

Unveiling the Shocking Transformation of ‘The Real World’ Star Puck: See Him Now!

Once one of the most controversial figures on MTV during the 1990s,…
2 people found dead at Rob Reiner's Los Angeles home, reports say

Tragic Private Jet Crash at Maine Airport: All 8 Aboard Feared Dead

In a developing situation, Bangor International Airport has temporarily ceased operations as…
Who is going to the Super Bowl?

Which Teams Will Secure Their Spot in the Super Bowl Showdown?

WASHINGTON — As the anticipation builds for Super Bowl LX, one team…
Terrified tourists flee after one 'offered elephant food' in Sri Lanka

Tourists in Sri Lanka Make Hasty Escape After Elephant Encounter

In a heart-stopping encounter in Sri Lanka, tourists were forced to flee…
Where is Bush? Bill Clinton joins Obama to condemn Minneapolis

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama Unite in Condemnation of Minneapolis Situation; George W. Bush’s Position Unclear

In a powerful rebuke of the Trump administration, former President Bill Clinton…
Airplane crashes at Maine airport with 8 on board, FAA says

Tragic Airplane Crash at Maine Airport: FAA Reports Incident Involving 8 Passengers

A plane carrying eight passengers crashed during takeoff in Maine on Sunday,…
Patriots' Christian Gonzalez made up for early blunder with game-sealing play

From Misstep to Mastery: How Christian Gonzalez Sealed the Patriots’ Victory with a Game-Changing Play

DENVER — Christian Gonzalez demonstrated his dual capabilities on a dramatic Sunday…