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DOWNTOWN — Chicago’s annual Thanksgiving parade returns for its 90th year, with classic marching bands, festive floats, live performances, equestrian units and familiar faces.
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will be 8-11 a.m. Nov. 28. It will travel north along State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street.
The family-friendly parade is free to attend, attracting thousands of visitors each year. VIP tickets are available for $70 online.
The parade will be streamed on Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service.
Alongside holiday icons from the North Pole and helium balloon favorite JoJo, the Jewel-Osco mascot, there are plenty of stars featured in the parade. This year’s special guests include Emmy Award-winning actor Lynn Whitfield, one of the stars of the Showtime series “The Chi,” and country music stars Reyna Roberts and Donnie Lee Strickland.
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will be hosted by a pair of Rock 95.5 personalities: Angi Taylor Morning Show host Marris and late-night host Maria Palmer.
There will also be staged live performances 8-9 a.m. the day of the parade. Participating groups include ArtEast Chicago Dance Troupe, Ballet Folklorico Sones Mexicanos, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago, Music Theater Works and more.
Parade participants include:
- Festive floats from the Chicago Chinese Performing Arts Ensemble, Casa de la Cultura Guatemalteca en Chicago, Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago and more.
- Equestrian groups American Sidesaddle Association, Soul Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program, Herder Holiday Horses and Ray of Hope Riders.
- Specialty groups like the 501st Legion Midwest Garrison, Ballet Folklorico Yolotzin, Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team, Cirques Experience, Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline, Jesse White Tumbling Team, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago, The Unicycling Society of America, Windy City Ghostbusters and more.
- Marching bands from Abilene High School, Back of the Yards College Preparatory, Bremen High School, Carson High School, Dr. Martin Luther King College Prep High School, Southland College Prep Charter High School, Urban Renewal, Woodland High School and more.
The parade was created in 1934 as an economic opportunity in response to the Great Depression. Learn more about the parade here.
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