Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
chicago thanksgiving parade chicago grand holiday tradition annual parade produced presented chicago festival association cfa held downtown chicago illinois every thanksgiving morning cst televised locally wciutv event carried wgntv superstation feed nationwide united state great depression six year many leader chicago searched way boost economy well public spirit walter gregory president chicago state street council proposed christmas parade chicago mayor edward kelly hope would improve mood chicago resident mayor agreed parade primarily interested potential improve chicago economy chicago first christmas parade state street december gregory costumed santa claus led caravan filled toy various merchandise state street business city government official hoped parade contributed desirable growth local economy held city largest holiday buying period since exciting surprising entire city depression day held dangerously low temperature throughout entire state area illinois low fourteen degree zero fahrenheit city even worse financial status result depression city could afford expensive float used year however event successful previous year state street council city chicago agreed use old trolley pull float trolley track state street time parade held despite world war ii parade underwent leadership change mayor office special event took responsibility producing holiday parade state street council determined could longer fund parade mayor richard j daley assured child chicago santa claus would still coming town usual chicago tribune reported million people lined parade route santa handed balloon hundred thousand watched parade parade saw first title sponsor parade renamed ronald mcdonald childrens charity parade route parade also changed state street michigan avenue mcdonalds title sponsor sort sponsorship parade day parade became known brachs kid holiday parade local confectioner brachs confection inc assumed title sponsorship parade marshall field took title sponsor parade field jingle elf parade created lasted parade radio city rockettes began threeyear run opening parade television broadcast highkicking routine year parade started focusing debuting several giant character balloon starting kermit frog billy blaze chicago thanksgiving parade introduced recognizable character balloon since time parade country target joined marshall field title sponsor parade moved back state street first time take place thanksgiving day ringling bros barnum bailey circus became parade newest opening act – position held circus performed last show may year circus introduced first elephant appear parade target thanksgiving parade formed target took title sponsorship parade year cfa signed fiveyear national syndication deal abc chicago partnership cfa league chicago theatre formed well resulting several local national touring theatre company performing vignette current production parade parade renamed state street thanksgiving parade parade presented firstever unit hawaii – e la ka hololio ke kahiau traditional equestrian group kailua hawaii city zurich switzerland police band make chicago debut first international unit appear parade parade assumed name mcdonalds thanksgiving parade mcdonalds owner chicagoland northwest indiana mcdonalds corporation announced twoyear title sponsorship parade close halfmillion spectator line chicago state street one warmest thanksgiving morning memory wgntv cfa announced station would broadcast mcdonalds thanksgiving parade live high definition wgn chicago available million home time superstation wgn wgn america also aired parade live across nation establishes parade one three parade country covered live entirety national television broadcast parade celebrated th stepoff threehour live broadcast first hour parade featured best local theatre culture rest parade featuring traditional forward motion parade parade announced localborn actress jennifer beals grand marshal parade reached record high million viewer across country spectator braved element attended parade person state street crowd enjoyed clear weather parade lineup consisting grand marshal holland taylor harlem globetrotter chicago cast million dollar quartet eriam sister celeste kellogg chicagoarea outdoor retailer uncle dans became headline sponsor saw parade result covid pandemic parade organizer noted ordered city chicago hold parade special event first cancellation history th edition deferred christmas caravan state street wacker drive congress parkway – state street christmas parade – mcdonalds childrens charity parade parade route changed well michigan avenue balbo avenue wacker drive brachs kid holiday parade brachs confection field jingle elf parade sponsored marshall field field jingle elf parade presented target marshall field parade route date changed well thanksgiving day back state street moving north congress parkway randolph street target thanksgiving parade target corporation state street thanksgiving parade mcdonalds thanksgiving parade uncle dans thanksgiving day parade –present chicago thanksgiving parade every year different group otherwise known unit walk parade route unit made giant inflatables specialty unit equestrian unit marching band float teddy turkey plump mascot uncle dans thanksgiving teddy also known make appearance throughout city helping spread holiday spirit – year round – everyone meet teddy facebook page facebookcomteddyturkey twitter account teddyturkey chicago thanksgiving parade us primarily helium balloon benefit floating air recent year helium shortage caused several parade cut cease helium use altogether however producer parade yet express plan move cold air balloon one two cold air balloon used every year chicago thanksgiving parade city event feature inflatable balloon every year parade school every year producer parade hold parade training school ensure sufficient preparation several volunteer many year chicago festival association pa museum science industry chicago hold day proceeding main attraction section school balloon handler name given volunteer balance giant inflatables go parade route volunteer treated sneak preview parade parade school included performance miss illinois st midwest garrison honorary grand marshal ronald mcdonald also gave motivational speech emceed event balloon inflation balloon parade begin inflation process sunrise south beginning parade route take several people fill balloon helium cold air featured balloon cookie monster teddy turkey cold air cat hat rudolph rednosed reindeer animal kermit frog abominable snowman peppa pig care bear garfield grinch lorax jeweloscos jojo rolling stone logo sphere scoobydoo cold air yogi bear cold air brainy smurf cold air hello kitty cold air felix cat cold air fred flintstone cold air balloon due covid restriction event entirely cancelled due covid pandemic balloon grounded due severe wind fred flintstone cold air rudolph tasmanian devil scoobydoo cold air yogi bear cold air fred flintstone cold air teddy turkey cold air kung fu panda cold air cookie monster cold air teddy turkey cold air plex care bear arthur hello kitty tweety bird scoobydoo cold air strawberry shortcake fred flintstone arthur curious george madeline tweety bird teddy turkey cold air garfield pooky tazmanian devil curious george foofa mr potato head arthur madeline tweety bird pacman sid science kid nutcracker arthur cornucopia curious george gingerbread man mighty mouse mr potato head odie paddington bear peter penguin tom jerry pilgrim garfield woody woodpecker teddy turkey cold air pilgrim garfield curious george rocky j squirrel papa smurf big bird arthur bullwinkle j moose odie yogi bear fred flintstone elmo teddy turkey cold air bob builder bullwinkle j moose curious george madeline kenneth blue elf fred flintstone pilgrim garfield maisy mouse scoobydoo underdog yogi bear pilgrim garfield strawberry shortcake underdog paddington bear raggs bob builder hello kitty cookie monster bullwinkle j moose curious george maisy mouse rocky j squirrel teddy turkey cold air elmo bob builder animal pilgrim garfield cow jumped moon arthur curious george super grover cookie monster popeye paddington bear teddy turkey cold air cookie monster elmo strawberry shortcake bear big blue house nutcracker pink panther kermit frog big bird popeye animal rudolph teddy turkey cold air humpty dumpty hickory dickory dock gingerbread man bear big blue house nutcracker frosty snowman kermit frog bert ernie trex bob larry rudolph specialty unit general category refers group unique skill routine parade international dance group sport team easily fall another category first longer defined specialty unit example grouped danced also featured horse would defined equestrian unit see instead viewer specialty unit often considered anticipated greatly enjoyed addition yearly parade search potential specialty unit generally occurs yearround basis unlike parade producer chicago parade search new member way standard browsing electronic medium source representative chicago festival association travel around country regular basis recruit new act featured specialty unit chicago bull chicago white sox toronto dance company shanghai ballet company chicago bear chicago blackhawks june lawrence school dance hong kong dance company equestrian unit group unit feature horse part performance unique addition various parade chicago festival association pay special attention potential equestrian unit add parade every year alone producer added three new equestrian unit parade new unit included childrens fantasy theatre orchard illinois junior miss emily boker southern ohio lady aside since chicago festival association given right produce parade made great effort bring equestrian unit popular theater production chicago example chicago festival association welcomed back goodman theatre horse actor worldrenowned production christmas carol featured equestrian unit medieval time chicago police department budweiser clydesdale walt disney world marching band come thanksgiving parade country every year mainly recruited worldstrides heritage performance program formerly known bowl game america approximately twentyfour many nation top high school marching band appear parade year year including member bartlett high school marching band made first appearance altogether approximately high school band member play parade featured marching band cedarville h marching band lumen christi marching band northwestern university wildcat marching band indiana university marching hundred mclean high school band pride dayton marching band float decorated platform either built vehicle towed behind one creation give group organization unique opportunity present viewer parade thanksgiving parade nineteen organization group created float present watching featured float turning red lightyear soul raya last dragon hero elementary almas way chicago festival association given right produce field jingle elf parade city chicago time parade produced several year chicago christmas parade association chicago christmas parade association last year brought significant change reverted parade route back state street parade previously michigan avenue see many follower took great deal pride parade returned state street however positive effect michigan avenue parade route city economy—bringing many potential holiday shopper many worldfamous store michigan avenue—many individual voiced great criticism greater state street council made clear state street business would open business thanksgiving day chicago festival association responded although parade originally created stimulate economic growth parade primarily exists community celebration case parade grew year chicago economy continuing see parade growing benefit hence criticism location change longsince passed since time organization made many significant change today parade capturing much attention chicago festival association changed parade format christmas often broadlylabeled holiday parade thanksgiving parade today year number spectator street increased hundred thousand parade also given live national broadcast generally considered expedient growth parade available handful city two year ago mcdonalds partnered chicago festival association parade title sponsor although isnt publicly known long mcdonalds plan parade title sponsor frequently publicly expressed great excitement sponsor quickly growing greatly loved event chicago festival association recruited pop rock group plain white t perform parade last couple year band reached success single hey delilah number one billboard chart two week despite unseasonably cold temperature plain white t agreed free performance parade doubt greatly parade quickly growing rating along event first national broadcast parade th year year parade broadcast three hour cst wgntv wgndt chicago wgn america nationwide make chicago thanksgiving parade one two parade macys thanksgiving day parade broadcast entirety nationwide audience also featured grand marshal jennie finch wwe wrestler chicago native cm punk harlem globetrotter grand marshal jennifer beals honorary grand marshal ronald mcdonald santa claus featured threehour entertainment extravaganza parade featured top marching band country including powerhouse marist high school proviso east high school houston county high school parade featured debut several giant balloon well including yogi bear fred flintstone scoobydoo grand marshal holland taylor chicago black ensemble theater eriam sister celeste kellogg featured parade parade concluded first closing number tribute ferris bueller ending santa claus wgns ana belaval led crowd dancing twist shout chicago festival association signed contract chicago wgntv although parade th consecutive year first feature live national broadcast wgntv partnership mcdonalds thanksgiving parade became available approximately million home across united state wgns superstation simulcast superstation wgn known wgn america wgn air parade conjunction annual retrospective special bozo gar ray wgn tv classic wgn wgn america aired parade three hour first chicago thanksgiving parade leading ringling bros barnum bailey first hour showcased area top theatre ethnic performance group following two hour showcased parade including official mcdonalds thanksgiving parade marching band proviso east high school team paul konrad robin baumgarten host parade ana beleval onstreet reporter mark suppelsa micah materre hosted parade onstreet reporter amy rutledge wgntv severing remaining tie wgn america ownership end latter eliminating chicagorelated programming lineup mcdonalds thanksgiving parade remains wgn america schedule last programming overlapped two station wgn america quietly dropped parade simulcast prior though wgn carried locally online year parade severed tie wgn announced would air year parade vpod tv independent micronetwork carried across northern illinois digital subchannels waoe wchuld wilccd virtual channel vpod tv carried cable satellite provider channel owner opted use must carry privilege allinfomercial subchannel event simulcast online audio relay also carried wckg vpodwckg broadcast agreement ended one year parade secured agreement wciutv replaced wgn chicago cw affiliate carry last two hour event live first hour devoted staged live performance jesse hutch jen lilley serve host promotional partnership great american family parade also offered independent syndication station outside chicago pluto tv acquired right parade telecast wciu continue carry broadcast chicagoland encore presentation chicago access network television movie weather man nicolas cage play role david spritz middleage chicago weather man find losing confidence various aspect life also greatly troubled low level respect given resident chicago however end movie brings different story spritz cage finally gain new sense confidence stability culmination positive change shown top float state street thanksgiving parade waiving excited spectator act symbol confidence success float spritz shown prized public icon achieve scene paramount picture granted permission chicago festival association film float went state street parade using visual effect cage digitally added picture official chicago thanksgiving parade site