The McDONALD'S THANKSGIVING PARADE Continues Chicago's Annual Holiday Family Tradition

    CHICAGO, IL, November 21, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, a free family event attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators, celebrates 84 years of Chicago holiday tradition.

WHAT: Loveable character balloons, top marching bands from across the country, festive floats, cultural groups, theatrical performances, equestrian groups, and celebrity guests

WHEN: Thursday, November 23, 2017

TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Downtown Chicago on State Street between Congress Parkway and Randolph Street.

Philip Purevich, Executive Director of the Chicago Festival Association, along with various parade units, will be available for interviews.

DETAILS: Over sixteen different countries will share their rich cultural traditions on the streets of Chicago this Thanksgiving Morning. Rapper, Twista, will be joined by Celebrity Chef, Graham Elliot, and Tommy Hawk, the Chicago Blackhawks mascot. Also, making appearances are Mongolian Strongman Tulga, from NBC's America's Got Talent, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters, and Ronald McDonald.

The high-energy first hour includes performances by Broadway in Chicago's Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, Ken Ludwig's 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, followed by 100 diverse and entertaining group performances, including 18 marching bands, 10 that have traveled from around the country.

Fan favorites Scooby-Doo and Fred Flintstone will float through the Chicago skyline with Santa Claus making a grand appearance at the end of the parade.

The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place rain or shine, Thursday, November 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on State Street, in Chicago. The parade is broadcast live on WGN 9 Chicago locally and WGN America nationally from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST) Thanksgiving morning. For more information about the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, visit Chicago Festival Association online at www.chicagofestivals.org.

The Chicago Festival Association is a unique organization with the mission of producing community events that positively impact the people of the city of Chicago, its guests and visitors. Chicago Festival Association strives to ensure the best in high-quality family entertainment for the hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans on the Parade route and the millions viewing the national broadcast.

# # #