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Everyone knows about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. It’s the biggest and most recognizable parade in the U.S.
But there is another big one the same day. The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade features giant balloons, floats, marching bands and more. Now in it’s 89th year, it takes place Thursday, Nov. 23, from 8-11 a.m., CT. It route takes it up Chicago’s legendary State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street. It will be broadcaast live on Pluto TV.
This year’s parade features the return of the giant balloons; marching bands from Tennessee State University, Minnesota State University and Marist High School; floats; staged performances; equestrian units; cultural performance troupes and inflatables
It will be co-hosted by actors Jen Lilley (Days of Our Lives, B&B Merry, Paris Christmas Waltz) and Jesse Hutch (Batwoman, B&B Merry, Blessings of Christmas). There will also be special appearances by HGTV’s Lauren Makk and Chicago’s Poet Laureate avery r. young. A highlight of the 2023 parade will be performances by country music’s Reyna Roberts and Tayler Holder.
“We are absolutely thrilled to create a long-lasting memory for all generations, one that is a tradition for so many people attending and watching from home. Our Chicago Thanksgiving Parade has become through the years a vibrant event that is an integral piece of what makes our city so great and unique,” said Daniel Mulka, Executive Director of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation.
Attending the parade is free, tho VIP seating is $70.
Attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators each year, here is the full lineup for the 2023 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade:
• Staged Live Entertainment Performances from 8-9 a.m., including American Blues Theater (Chicago, IL), avery r. young- Poet Laureate of Chicago (Chicago, IL), Ballet Folklorico Sones Mexicanos (Franklin Park, IL), Black Ensemble Theater (Chicago IL), Chicago Korean Dance Company (Rolling Medows, IL), Dong Fang Chinese Performing Arts (Chicago, IL), Huaxing Arts Group (Naperville, IL), John Vincent (Chicago, IL), Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago (Skokie, IL), Suktinis (Lemont, IL), Musical Theater Works (Skokie, IL), Renacer Boliviano (Chicago, IL), Reyna Roberts (La Vergne, IL), Tayler Holder (Nashville, TN), Texas State University Strutters (San Marcos, TX).
• Marching Bands hail from 16 high schools and universities, including Arcadia High School (Arcadia, CA), Battery Creek High School (Beaufort, SC), Bedford High School (Temperance, MI), Bishop Noll Institute (Hammond, IN), Bloom Township District 206 (Chicago Heights, IL), Horace Mann Academy (Chicago, IL), Marist High School (Chicago, IL), Minnesota State University, Mankato (Mankato, MN), Portage High School (Portage, WI), Riverside Brookfield High School (Riverside, IL), Southland College Prep Charter High School (Richton Park, IL), Thomas Kelly College Preparatory (Chicago, IL), Thornwood High School (South Holland, IL), Thorton Fraction North High School (Calumet City, IL), Tennessee State University – “The Aristocrat of Bands”, first HCBU to play the Parade.
• Specialty Units: 501st Legion Midwest Garrison. (Chicago, IL), Aloha Center Chicago (Chicago, IL), Ballet Folklorico Yolotzin (East Chicago, IN), Bloom Township High School District 206 Choir (Chicago Heights, IL), Chicago Boyz (Chicago, IL), Chicago Chinese Culture & Arts Society (Chicago, IL), Chicago Korean Dance Company (Rolling Meadows, IL), Chicago Spirit Brigade (Chicago, IL), Chicago Wheel Jam by Cirques Experience (Chicago, IL), Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline (Crystal Lake, IL), CTSHealth (Chicago, IL), Jesse White Tumbling Team (Chicago, IL), Jurassic Park Motor Pool: Midwest and Indiana Divisions (Osage, IA), Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago (Skokie, IL), Michigan City Soul Steppers Drill Team (Michigan City, IN), Mobile Azalea Trail Maids (Saraland, AL), Ozinga (Mokena, IL), Pro Dance Elite Studios (Algonquin, IL), Rebecca McCarthy School of Dance (Lakewood, IL), Renacer Boliviano Dance Troupe (Chicago, IL), St. Paul Winter Carnival Royal Family (Anoka, MN), Texas State University Strutters Dance Team (San Marcos, TX), Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers (Downers Grove, IL), Unicycling Society of America, Inc. (Garden City, MI), Windy City Ghostbusters (Lockport, IL), Marcedes Benz of Chicago, NASCAR.
• Equestrians: Bertrand’s Miniature Horses (Watseka, IL), Herder Holiday Horses (Frankfort, IL), Miss Rodeo Illinois and Miss Teen Rodeo Illinois (Ramsey, IL), Ray of Hope Riders (Lowell, IL), Red Hats and Purple Chaps (Lafayette, IL), SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program (Barrington, IL).
• Floats: Casa de la Cultura Guatemalteca en Chicago, Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association, Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago, Santa’s Village, Krewe of Europa.
Honored Guests: avery r. young- Poet Laurate of Chicago, Lauren Makk of HGTV, Miss Ilinois Jessica Tilton, Miss Illinois’ Teen Isabella Waggoner, Country Artist Reyna Roberts, and Country Artist and Actor Tayler Holder.
It’s website is Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
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