Celebrate a Holiday Tradition at the 2016 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade in Downtown Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL, November 17, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, a high-quality, family event attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators, celebrates 83 years of Chicago holiday tradition. Loveable character balloons, top marching bands from across the country, festive floats, cultural groups, theatrical performances, equestrian groups, and celebrity guests, plus over a thousand dedicated volunteers, all marching through the Loop, make the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade an annual celebration for the whole family. For those not in Chicago, the parade is nationally broadcast, live, on WGN America. The 2016 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place LIVE on State Street between Congress Parkway and Randolph Street in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24 from 8 to 11 a.m. (CST).

Chicago-born Matt Walsh of HBO's Veep will serve as the Grand Marshal of this year's Parade. Walsh will be joined by comedian, Sebastian Maniscalco, Emma Kenney from Showtime's Shameless and Dante Brown from Fox's new Lethal Weapon. Returning to the parade will be Northbrook's own Yuri Sardarov from the TV hit series Chicago Fire and chef, restauranteur, and Top Chef host/judge Graham Elliot.

McDonald's Owner/Operators of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, the title sponsor of the parade, will also present the McDonald's Community Fire Truck, the Jesse White Tumbling Team, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in Partnership with Advocate Children's Hospital, Hinsdale South High School Marching Band, Lake Zurich High School Marching Band, The Hiplet Ballerinas of CMDC, Michigan City Soul Steppers Drill Team and Ronald McDonald and his Big Red Shoe. The Northwest Indiana McDonald's Operators are also presenting the Pantry on the Go.

Originally called the Christmas Caravan in the 1930s, the Parade was created in 1934 to help lift the spirits of residents suffering through the Great Depression. Since then, it has developed into a full-scale spectacle that celebrates the holiday season. What once started out as an attempt to boost Chicago's economy has evolved into a cherished holiday tradition for Chicagoans and Americans alike. Over sixteen different countries will share their enriched traditions with Chicago's Parade this Thanksgiving morning. The sights on State Street give the audience a chance to travel the world and embrace other traditions, all without leaving downtown Chicago

Broadcast
WGN 9 Chicago airs the Parade live and in high definition from 8 to 11 a.m. (CST) Thursday, November 24. WGN America also broadcasts the Parade nationwide, establishing it as one of only a few elite parades in the country to be covered live, in its entirety, on a national television broadcast. The Parade streams live online at www.wgntv.com and CLTV rebroadcasts the parade from 1 to 4 p.m.

About MOCNI
McDonald's Owner/Operators of Chicago and Northwest Indiana represent more than 100 franchisees and nearly 500 restaurants throughout the greater Chicagoland region, including stores as far north as Gurnee, west as Marengo, south as Watseka and east to Northwest Indiana. MOCNI manages and facilitates all marketing, sports, community relations, educational and philanthropic programs throughout the region, and is responsible for implementing and maintaining consistency at every Chicagoland restaurant.

Visit MOCNI on Instagram and Twitter - @McD_Chicago

The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place rain or shine, Thursday, November 24, from 8 to 11 a.m., on State Street, in Chicago. For more information about the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, visit Chicago Festival Association online at www.chicagofestivals.org

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