Throughout the year, Chicago hosts hundreds of festivals and parades of various scales – from neighborhood events to world-class events. All of them are dedicated to a wide variety of topics, such as cinema, music and art. We’ll talk about local parades and their peculiarities here at chicagovski.com.
Parade in honor of St. Patrick’s Day
Every year on March 17, Chicago holds a parade in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. It was first held in the city in 1843. Since then, Chicagoans have been proudly demonstrating their Irish heritage.
A special feature of this event is the river painting ceremony, which takes place early on Saturday morning and opens the grand celebration. Crowds line the waterfront to witness the eco-friendly green paint being poured into the water and coloring it. After that, local talented musicians, Irish dancers, bagpipers and marching bands fill the streets.
The result is an unforgettable spectacle, a unique celebration with a lot of fun and joy. The procession is traditionally led by the Shannon Rovers, an Irish bagpipe band. In total, up to 100 different bands and groups take part in the procession.
Bud Billiken Parade
The Bud Billiken Parade is an annual public procession in Chicago that gathers millions of people. It is considered one of the largest in the United States, dedicated to African-American youth, their education and life.
The history of this parade dates back to 1929. It was founded by Robert S. Abbott to help African-American children from low-income families financially. He named the event after the fictional character Bud Billiken, whom he considered a symbol of good luck.
Since 1940, this parade has been organized by the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. It is attended by celebrities, politicians, entrepreneurs, beauty queens, talented musicians and many others. It is worth noting that Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and others are frequent guests.
The modern parade is held in late summer before the start of the new school year. Its route runs along a 2-mile-long road: down Martin Luther King Jr. Street, through the historic Bronzeville neighborhood to Washington Park. As part of the festival, various competitions are held where young people demonstrate their talents.
Parade in honor of the Mexican Independence Day
This event is dedicated to a turning point in world history. It takes place annually in Chicago on 26th Street. It pays tribute to many Mexican traditions and culture.
In 1997, the first Mexican Independence Day parade took place in Chicago. People gathered to honor the memory of brave souls who stood to the last for the independence of their country.
In the early morning hours of September 16, 1810, the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla raised an uprising in the village of Dolores to liberate Mexico from Spain. This important event marked the beginning of a ten-year revolution that resulted in independence.
The parade begins at the historic Little Village Arch on 26th Street. Next, it passes along N Kostner Avenue, leading a series of bands and folkloric dancers dressed in traditional Mexican costumes. At the end of the procession, participants are invited to visit local shops and restaurants.
Pride parade
The event takes place on the last Sunday of June. It is attended by most citizens who want to signal their respect and acceptance of people of different sexual orientations.
Chicago Pride Parade, one of the most popular LGBTQ+ events in the entire city. It originated after the Stonewall riots in 1969, when people came together to defend their rights.
At first, the parade marched only through the Lakeview neighborhood. Then, as new participants joined the movement, it expanded. Now the procession goes through Uptown, Belmont Avenue, Halsted Street and Lincoln Park.
Decorated cars, artistic posters in the hands of people, marching bands draw attention to the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. The parade never ceases to attract large crowds, including celebrities and politicians. Large street festivals, concerts and parties are held throughout the city in honor of this event.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is held on the last Monday in May. On the weekend before it, Chicago celebrates the official beginning of summer and holds a rather special celebration. On Saturday at 11:00 a.m., a wreath-laying ceremony begins at the Richard J. Daley Center Plaza.
At noon, the parade starts in honor of all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the country. Soldiers, veterans and civilians march down State Street, Lake Street and Van Buren Street with flags and banners held high.
In the evening, everyone who wants to watch a beautiful fireworks show gathers at the Navy Pier. The beach season also starts on these days. In addition, the city’s stores offer discounts and sales in honor of Memorial Day.
Chicago Sky Parade
This parade is dedicated to the Chicago Sky professional basketball team.
In 2021, the Chicago Sky won the city’s first WNBA championship, defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth game of the finals with a minimum 6-point lead. What’s even more interesting is that it all happened at the team’s home court, Wintrust Arena.
To mark this important event, a parade was held on October 19, 2021. A cheering crowd marched from the Wintrust Arena to Millennium Park. Although the event is not annual, it is worth mentioning because it is a vivid example of the city’s commitment to its sports teams. So, everyone can witness the exciting victory march when the championship takes place in Chicago.
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
On Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday of November), Chicago traditionally holds a colorful holiday parade. The merry procession takes place from 8:00 to 11:00 on State Street. It involves more than 100 decorated platforms, several orchestras, horse-drawn carriages, dance and music groups. During the procession, huge helium balloons in the shape of Chicago’s favorite cartoon characters fly over people’s heads. Chief among them is the parade’s mascot, Teddy the turkey.
This event has a very rich and interesting history. It was first held in 1934 as the Christmas Caravan, which was aimed at instilling hope and joy in the people during the Great Depression.
The modern Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is considered the second largest and most popular in America, attended by millions of people.
Columbus Day Parade
The Columbus Day parade in Chicago is a long-standing tradition. It is dedicated to the different cultures that, like pieces of a puzzle, have formed Chicago into a single whole. The event was first held in 1952 to honor the pioneering achievements of Italian immigrants and to thank them for their hard work in making a difference in art, culture and science.
The festivities begin in the morning. Thousands of people come to Arrigo Park for a wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Italian-American war veterans. The crowd then heads to State Street and Walker Drive.
Citizens in traditional costumes, bands and cars decorated with Italian flags fill the streets. This creates a festive atmosphere that encourages all Americans of Italian descent to realize their heritage.
As you can see, Chicago has a large number of parades that are definitely worth visiting.