The staccato beat of snare drums filled the crisp morning air as thousands flocked to the Loop early Thursday for the 89th annual Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
Chicago Heights residents Kathy Wells and Thomas English, who have been together for 10 years, waited near the parade’s start at State Street and Ida B. Wells Drive. They were most looking forward to the giant balloons.
The parade streamed north to Randolph Street and saw the return of the beloved giant balloons, including Teddy the Turkey, Kermit the Frog, Rudolph the Reindeer and Peppa Pig.
The balloons haven’t been part of the parade since 2018. A shortage of helium was, in part, what led to the inflatables being sidelined, said Dan Mulka, executive director of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation.
The parade also featured marching bands, staged live performances, equestrians and more.
Paradegoers cheered on as members of the Jesse White Tumbling Team jumped onto mini trampolines and did midair flips.
Many nodded their heads to tunes performed by the marching bands, including “Feliz Navidad” and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ 2011 hit “Can’t Hold Us.”
Some spectators posed for pictures with parade floats and band members serving as their backdrops.
Jonathan Beverly made the trip from western Nebraska for his first parade since his son got a job as a hotel manager.
“It’s very vibrant, surprisingly welcome,” Beverly, 59, said of his impression of Chicago.
Jacqueline S., 39, and her family arrived in town Wednesday night from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Last year the family arrived late for the parade, and Jacqueline was looking forward to seeing the “joy in her daughter’s face when she gets to see different things.”
When asked how much it meant to Jacqueline to share the parade with her 3-year-old daughter, she said it was “very meaningful, especially when it’s at no cost to individuals to participate.”
Maria M., her husband and two kids made the trip from Hoffman Estates.
“One of the awesome things about living near Chicago is that we get an actual, awesome parade to see,” Maria said.
Her daughter, Camila, 8, said she was looking forward to having fun with her family.
A float carrying Santa Claus — jingling bells and Mrs. Claus walking beside his float — played the tune “Here Comes Santa Claus“ as the parade began to come to a close.
As the last marching band left the starting line, quieter city sounds returned.
The parade, originally called the Christmas Caravan, was started in 1934 to help lift the spirits of residents going through the Great Depression, according to the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade’s official website.
“What once started as an attempt to boost Chicago’s economy has evolved into a cherished holiday tradition for Americans across the country,” a press release said.
Contributing: Phyllis Cha
