Making Chicago Smile Since 1934, The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade Will Return to Downtown Chicago, Thursday Morning, November 26, 2015

    CHICAGO, IL, June 04, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kick off your Thanksgiving with the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade! Hundreds of thousands of spectators will pack the streets of Chicago to watch giant helium balloons, magnificent marching bands, majestic equestrian units and marvelous performance groups representing the best talent in Chicago and across the country. This year's McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade will take place LIVE on State Street in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, from 8 to 11 a.m. (CST). For those that cannot attend in person, the parade will be broadcast live on WGN.

Originally called the Christmas Caravan, the parade was created in 1934 to help lift the spirits of Chicagoans suffering though the Great Depression. Since then it has developed into a full-scale spectacle celebrating the holiday season. What once started out as an attempt to boost Chicago's economy has evolved into a beloved tradition for Chicagoans and Americans alike. The parade includes performers and special guests representing every part of the country, as well as representing many cultures from around the world. Twenty-five different cultures were represented in the 2014 Parade.

The parade's line-up includes over 100 diverse units, including Honorary Grand MarshalRonald McDonald,, the parade's loveable mascot, Teddy Turkey, the Harlem Globetrotters and of course, Santa Claus. This year's parade will feature performances from the world-renowned Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the exhilarating Black Ensemble Theater, the pitch-perfect Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, a heartwarming performance of A Christmas Carol by Goodman Theatre and the first ever appearance by Lookingglass Theatre. Crowd favorites such as the Jesse White Tumblers, The Barefoot Hawaiian and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project will make this a show not to be missed!

Chicago Festival Association is a unique non-profit organization with the mission of producing community events that positively impact the people of the city of Chicago along with its guests and visitors. With a full-time staff of three, augmented by seasonal staff and over a thousand hard-working volunteers, the Chicago Festival Association strives to deliver high-quality entertainment for live spectators and at-home viewers alike.

The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place rain or shine, Thursday, November 26, from 8-11 a.m., on State Street, from Congress to Randolph, in Chicago. Additional information about the 2015 line-up and special guests will be announced after Labor Day. For more information about the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, please visit www.chicagofestivals.org.

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