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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
The '''Chicago Thanksgiving
==
In 1934, the United States had been in the [[Great Depression]] for six years. Many leaders in Chicago searched for ways to boost the economy as well as public spirit. Walter Gregory, President of Chicago's State Street Council, proposed a Christmas parade to Chicago Mayor Edward Kelly in the hopes that it would improve the moods of Chicago residents. The Mayor agreed to the parade, being primarily interested in its potential to improve Chicago's economy.▼
▲In 1934, the United States had been in the Great Depression for six years. Many leaders in Chicago searched for ways to boost the economy as well as public spirit. Walter Gregory, President of Chicago's State Street Council, proposed a Christmas parade to Chicago Mayor Edward Kelly in the hopes that it would improve the moods of Chicago residents. The Mayor agreed to the parade, being primarily interested in its potential to improve Chicago's economy.
Chicago's first Christmas Parade was on State Street on December 7, 1934. Gregory and a costumed [[Santa Claus]] led the caravan, which was filled with toys and various merchandise from State Street businesses. As the city's government officials had hoped, the parade contributed to desirable growth in the local economy and 1934 held the city's largest holiday buying period since 1927. This was both exciting and surprising for the entire city. Not only was it the Depression, but that day held dangerously low temperatures throughout the entire state. Some areas of Illinois were as low as fourteen degrees below zero (Fahrenheit).
In 1935, the city was in even worse financial status as a result of the Depression. The city could not afford the expensive floats that were used the year before. However, the event had been so successful in the previous year that The State Street Council and the City of Chicago agreed to use an old trolley to pull the floats, as there were trolley tracks on State Street at the time.
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The parade underwent a leadership change in 1968, when the Mayor's Office of Special Events took over the responsibility of producing the holiday parade when the State Street Council determined that it could no longer fund the parade. Mayor [[Richard J. Daley]] assured the children of Chicago that [[Santa Claus]] would still be coming to town as usual.
In 1969, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' reported that more than 1.5 million people lined the parade route.
In 1981, over 100 Santas handed out over 10,000 balloons as hundreds of thousands watched the parade.
The parade saw its first title sponsor in 1984. The parade was renamed "The Ronald McDonald Children's Charities Parade
In 1990, the parade became known as "The [[Brach's]] Kid's Holiday Parade
In 1998, [[Marshall Field's]] took over as title sponsor of the parade.
In 1999, [[Target Corporation|Target]] joined Marshall Field's as the title sponsor. The parade was moved back to State Street, and for the first time, takes place on Thanksgiving Day.
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In 2001, [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]] became the parade's newest opening act – a position it held until 2016 (the circus performed its last show in May 2017). This year, the circus introduced the first elephant to appear in the parade.
The "Target Thanksgiving Parade" was formed in 2002, as Target took over title sponsorship of the parade.
In 2003, the parade was renamed the "State Street Thanksgiving Parade
In 2004, the City of Zurich (Switzerland) Police Band makes its Chicago debut as the first international unit to appear in the parade.
In 2006, the parade assumed the name "McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade," as the McDonald's Owners of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and the [[McDonald's]] Corporation announced a two-year title sponsorship of the parade.
In 2007, WGN-TV and CFA announced that the station would broadcast the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade live and in high definition on WGN 9 Chicago.
In 2008, the parade celebrated its 75th step-off with a three-hour live broadcast. The first hour of the parade featured the best in local theatre and culture, with the rest of the parade featuring the traditional, forward motion parade.
In 2010, the parade announced local-born actress Jennifer Beals as its Grand Marshal.
In 2011, the crowds enjoyed clear weather and a parade line-up consisting of Grand Marshal [[Holland Taylor]], the [[Harlem Globetrotters]], the Chicago cast of ''[[Million Dollar Quartet]]'', the [[Eriam Sisters]], [[Celeste Kellogg]] and more.
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In 2018, Chicago-area outdoor retailer [[Uncle Dan's]] became the headline sponsor.
In 2020, saw no parade as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]; parade organizers noted they had been ordered by the city of Chicago not to hold the parade, nor any other "special events
===The different names of "Chicago's Grand Holiday Tradition"===
*
On State Street from Wacker Drive to Congress Parkway
* 1935–1983: '''State Street Christmas Parade'''
* 1984–1989: '''McDonald's Children's Charity Parade'''
parade route changed as well, now on [[Michigan Avenue (Chicago)|Michigan Avenue]] From Balbo Avenue to Wacker Drive
* 1990: '''The Brach's Kids Holiday Parade''' ([[Brach's Confections]])
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* 2006-2017: '''McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade'''<ref>{{cite book | first=Robert | last=Ledermann | year=2004 | title=Chicago's State Street Christmas Parade (IL) (Images of America) | page= 12 | publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]] | isbn=0-7385-3273-8}}</ref>
* 2018: '''Uncle Dan's Thanksgiving Day Parade'''
* 2019,
==Groups==
Every year, more than 100 different groups, otherwise known as "units", walk down the parade route.
===Teddy Turkey===
[[Teddy Turkey]] is the plump mascot of the Uncle Dan's Thanksgiving
===Balloons===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:2007 Bear.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]]] -->
The
====Parade school====
Every year, the producers of the parade hold a parade training school to ensure sufficient preparation in several of the volunteers. For many years the Chicago Festival Association, the pa with the [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science & Industry]] in Chicago, and hold the day's proceedings there. The main attraction and section of the school is for the "balloon handlers", a name given to the volunteers who balance the giant inflatables as they go down the parade route.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.org|title=Parade Balloon School Is in Session|date=November 18, 2005|access-date=February 27, 2008|publisher=Miller-Pear Public Relations|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128233953/http://www.prnewswire.org/|archive-date=November 28, 1999|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
====Balloon inflation====
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====Featured balloons====
*'''2023''': Cookie Monster, Teddy Turkey '''''(cold air)''''', The Cat in the Hat, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Animal, Kermit the Frog, [[Yeti|The Abominable Snowman]], [[Peppa Pig]], Care Bear, Garfield, [[The Grinch]], [[The Lorax]], [[Jewel-Osco|Jewel-Osco's]] Jojo, [[The Rolling Stones]] logo spheres
*'''2022''': Scooby-Doo '''''(cold air)''''', Yogi Bear '''''(cold air)''''', Brainy Smurf '''''(cold air)''''', Hello Kitty '''''(cold air)''''', [[Felix the Cat]] '''''(cold air)''''', Fred Flintstone '''''(cold air)'''''
*'''2021''': No balloons due to COVID-19 restrictions
*'''2020''': Event entirely cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
*'''2019''': All balloons grounded due to severe winds
*'''2018''': Fred Flintstone '''''(cold air)''''', Rudolph, Tasmanian Devil
*'''2017''': Scooby-Doo '''''(cold air)''''', Yogi Bear '''''(cold air)''''', Fred Flintstone '''''(cold air)'''''
*'''2016''': Teddy Turkey '''''(cold air)''''', [[Kung Fu Panda]] '''''(cold air)''''', Cookie Monster '''''(cold air)'''''
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*'''2008''': Teddy Turkey '''''(cold air)''''', Elmo, [[Bob the Builder]], Animal, Pilgrim [[Garfield the Cat|Garfield]], Cow Jumped Over the Moon, [[Arthur Read|Arthur]], [[Curious George]], [[Super Grover]], Cookie Monster, Popeye, [[Paddington Bear]]
*'''2007''': Teddy Turkey '''''(cold air)''''', [[Cookie Monster]], [[Elmo]], [[Strawberry Shortcake]], Bear in the Big Blue House, The Nutcracker, [[Pink Panther (character)|Pink Panther]], Kermit the Frog, [[Big Bird]], [[Popeye the Sailor Man|Popeye]], [[Animal (Muppet)|Animal]], Rudolph
*'''2006''': Teddy Turkey '''''(cold air)''''', [[Humpty Dumpty]], [[Hickory Dickory Dock]], The Gingerbread Man, ''[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]'', The Nutcracker, [[Frosty the Snowman]], [[Kermit the Frog]], [[Bert
===Specialty units===
'''Specialty units''' is a general category and refers to groups with unique skills or routines in the parade, such as international dance groups and sports teams. If they can easily fall into another category first, they will no longer be defined as a "specialty unit". For example, if the grouped danced but also featured horses, they would be defined as an [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]] Unit [[#Equestrian units|(see below)]] instead.
To viewers, "specialty units" are often considered some of the most anticipated and greatly enjoyed additions to the yearly parade. As such, the search for potential "specialty units" generally occurs on a year-round basis. Unlike most other parades, the producers of this Chicago parade search for new members in more ways than the standard browsing of electronic and media sources.
====Featured specialty units====
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===Equestrian units===
'''Equestrian Units''' are groups, or "units", which feature horses as part of their performance. This is a unique addition to various parades, and the Chicago Festival Association pays special attention to potential Equestrian Units to add to the parade every year. In 2007 alone, the producers added three new Equestrian Units to the parade. The new units included the "Children's Fantasy Theatre Orchard", "Illinois Junior Miss Emily Boker", and "Southern Ohio Ladies Aside".
====Featured equestrian units====
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| title = Bartlett High band to join Chicago parade
| pages = 6 – News
| publisher = Chicago Daily Herald
| date = November 24, 2004
| url = http://www.chicagodailyherald.com
}}</ref>
====Featured marching bands====
*'''2022''': Cedarville HS Marching Band, Lumen Christi Marching Band, [[Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band]], [[Indiana University Marching Hundred]], McLean High School Band, Pride of Dayton Marching Band
===Floats===
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*'''2022''': [[Turning Red]], [[Lightyear (film)|Lightyear]], [[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]], [[Raya and the Last Dragon]], [[Hero Elementary]], [[Alma's Way]]
==
In 2000, the Chicago Festival Association was given the rights to produce the [[Marshall Field's|Field's]] Jingle Elf Parade by the [[Chicago|City of Chicago]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = Busk
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| title = Miles of Smiles
| pages = 3 – Weekend Plan
| work = Chicago Sun-Times
| date = November 18, 2000
| url = http://www.chicagosuntimes.com
}}</ref>
| title = Marshall Field's Hosts Chicago's Annual Holiday Parade
| publisher = Global News Wire
| date = October 19, 1998
}}</ref>
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| title = Turkey Day Treat
| pages = 39 – Features
| work = Chicago Sun-Times
| date = November 24, 1999
| url = http://www.chicagosuntimes.com
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| title = Leave the city how you found it
| pages = 11 – Chicago Diary
| publisher = Chicago Daily Herald
| date = November 23, 1999
| url = http://chicagodailyherald.com
}}</ref>
| title = Downtown stores out of step with Christmas Parade
| pages = 01D – Business
| publisher = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
| date = November 3, 2000
}}</ref>
Since that time, the organization has made many more significant changes, and today the parade is capturing much more attention. In 2002, the Chicago Festival Association changed the parade format from a Christmas or often broadly-labeled holiday parade to the Thanksgiving parade that it is today. In only a few years, the number of spectators on the streets have increased by hundreds of thousands. The parade is also given a live national broadcast. This is generally considered expedient growth, as the parade was available in no more than a handful of cities only two years ago.
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In 2007, the Chicago Festival Association recruited the [[pop rock]] group [[Plain White T's]] to perform in the parade. In the last couple of years, the band had reached success and their single "[[Hey There Delilah]]" had been number one on the [[Billboard Charts|''Billboard'' chart]] for two weeks. Despite the unseasonably cold temperatures, the Plain White T's agreed to do a free performance in the parade, which was no doubt greatly because of the parade's quickly growing ratings along with the event's first national broadcast.
In 2008, the parade was on
In 2010, Grand Marshal [[Jennifer Beals]], Honorary Grand Marshal [[Ronald McDonald]], and [[Santa Claus]] were featured in a three-hour entertainment extravaganza.
In 2011, Grand Marshal [[Holland Taylor]], Chicago's Black Ensemble Theater, the EriAm Sisters and Celeste Kellogg were featured in the parade.
==Television==
In 2007, the Chicago Festival Association signed a contract with Chicago's [[WGN-TV]]. Although the parade was in its 74th consecutive year, it was the first to feature a live national broadcast. With WGN-TV partnership, the 2007 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade became available in approximately 72 million homes across the United States through WGN's [[superstation]] simulcast, Superstation WGN (now known as [[WGN America]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url
|title
|publisher = Phil Purevich
|access-date = February 26, 2008
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080131103327/http://www.chicagofestivals.org/paradeInfo.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = January 31, 2008}}</ref> WGN airs the parade in conjunction with its annual retrospective special, ''[[Bozo, Gar and Ray: WGN TV Classics]].''
In 2008, WGN and WGN America aired the parade for three hours.
The team of [[Paul Konrad]] and
[[Mark Suppelsa]] and
With WGN-TV severing all remaining ties with WGN America (other than ownership) at the end of 2014, and the latter eliminating all Chicago-related programming from its lineup, the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade (which remains on WGN America's schedule)
In 2021, the parade severed ties with WGN and announced it would air that year's parade on VPOD TV, an [[independent station (North America)|independent]] micro-network carried across northern Illinois on the digital subchannels of [[WTVK (TV)|WAOE]],
The VPOD/WCKG broadcast agreement ended after one year, and in 2022, the parade secured an agreement with [[WCIU-TV]] (which had replaced WGN as Chicago's CW affiliate) to carry the last two hours of the event live, with the first hour devoted to staged live performances. [[Jesse Hutch]] and [[Jen Lilley]] will serve as hosts, through a promotional partnership with [[Great American Family]].<ref>[https://www.chicagothanksgivingparade.com/the-chicago-thanksgiving-parade-celebrates-88-years-of-entertaining-families-across-the-city-and-country-with-marching-bands-festive-floats-staged-performances-and-equestrian-units-all-led-by-cele/ The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Celebrates 88 Years of Entertaining Families Across the City and Country with Marching Bands, Festive Floats, Staged Performances, and Equestrian Units, All Led by Celebrity Co-Hosts Jen Lilley & Jesse Hutch] 2022 press release</ref> The parade is also being offered in independent [[broadcast syndication|syndication]] to stations outside Chicago.<ref>[https://www.chicagothanksgivingparade.com/syndication/ Syndication information]</ref>
[[Pluto TV]] acquired the rights to the parade telecast for 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouma |first=Luke |date=2023-11-01 |title=Pluto TV is Adding 4 New Channels, Live MMA Fights, & A Ton of On-demand Content in November 2023 |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/pluto-tv-is-adding-4-new-channels-live-mma-fights-a-ton-of-on-demand-content-in-november-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Cord Cutters News |language=en-US}}</ref> WCIU will continue to carry the broadcast in Chicagoland, with an encore presentation on [[Chicago Access Network Television]].<!-- per parade website -->
==Movie coverage==
In the movie ''[[The Weather Man]]'', [[Nicolas Cage]] plays the role of David Spritz, a middle-age Chicago weather man who finds that he is losing confidence in various aspects of his life.
To achieve this scene, [[Paramount Pictures]] was granted permission by the Chicago Festival Association to film the float as it went down State Street in the 2004 parade. Using [[visual effects]], Cage was then digitally added to the picture.
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{{Thanksgiving}}
[[Category:Local television programming in the United States]]▼
[[Category:2007 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:Parades in the United States]]
[[Category:Thanksgiving parades]]
[[Category:Festivals in Chicago]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Festivals established in 1934]]
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