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When Is The Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago? Details Here

By Dong Jin Oh | September 23, 2016 3:28pm | Updated on November 24, 2016 6:50am
 Here's everything you need to know about this year's Thanksgiving Parade.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's Thanksgiving Parade.
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DNAinfo

THE LOOP — The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade is returning to Chicago on Thanksgiving morning, complete with inflatable helium balloons and Ronald McDonald as the honorary grand marshal.

Dubbed "Chicago's Grand Holiday Tradition," the annual parade will take place from 8-11 a.m. Thursday in the Loop. Organizers recommend early arrival to secure a good spot.

The parade will begin at Congress Parkway and move northbound for a mile along State Street to Randolph Street. A less crowded viewing area will be available at State and Adams Street.

The parade is free for all ages, but individual sponsorships are available at $60 per person for access to the VIP viewing area, "for-TV-only" staged performances and private restrooms.

 The map for the Thanksgiving parade for 2016.
The map for the Thanksgiving parade for 2016.
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DNAinfo/Tanveer Ali

The parade will go on rain or shine.

RELATED: Chicago Thanksgiving 1923: What's For Dinner?

More than 5,000 participants are slated to perform in the parade along with 1,300 volunteers, according to organizers.

If you can't make it downtown, the parade will be broadcast locally on WGN (Channel 9) and nationally on WGN America. The event will also be livestreamed on wgntv.com.

Originally called the Christmas Caravan, the historic parade began in 1934 as a way to invigorate Chicago residents struggling through the Great Depression.

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