Chicago Thanksgiving Parade 2024

The Thanksgiving Parade is Chicago's grand holiday tradition, which is produced and presented by the Chicago Festival Association. The parade is held on Thanksgiving Day and runs from 8 am until 11 am. The route starts at State Street in Downtown Chicago. The procession is broadcast live on WGN-TV and nationwide on the WGN America cable network.

Parade Highlights

Thousands of spectators gather along State Street to witness the colorful spectacle: floats, marching bands, inflatable balloons, various performers in their national costumes, equestrian units, and much more. The culmination of the parade is when Santa Claus makes an appearance with a Chicago Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit escort. The parade features plenty of entertainment and many festivities, as well as live concerts by local and national stars.

Tips to watch the parade

The procession marches north from Ida B. Wells to Randolph on State Street in the Loop. Generally, it's best to stand south, closer to Ida B. Wells, to have more space and see fewer crowds. If you don't mind arriving super early, you can secure a spot near the Harold Washington Library to see inflated balloons underneath the L tracks. Chicago Thanksgiving Parade also offers access to the VIP viewing area for $70. The area is located near the TV Zone at 111 N. State Street, on the east side of State Street, between Washington and Randolph. To be able to access the area, it's recommended to arrive no later than 7:30 am. The VIP area has concessions for sale, general admission bleacher seating, and private portable restrooms.

Parade History

The tradition first emerged in 1934, during the Great Depression. Many officials and community leaders in Chicago were looking for ways to boost the economy as well as people's spirit and came up with the idea of a Christmas parade. It proved to be a big success. In 1981, about 100 Santas handed out over 10,000 balloons as hundreds of thousands of people flocked to watch the parade. In 2003 parade was officially renamed into "State Street Thanksgiving Parade."

In 2010, the parade reached a record high audience of 3.75 million. About 350,000 people attended the event on State Street.