ENGLEWOOD — The 54th Annual Englewood Back To School Parade will show "the good in Englewood," organizers said.
Nicole Vaughn, who participated in the parade as a girl, is once again heading up the event, which will kick off at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 27 at 56th and Halsted streets. The parade finale celebration will take place at Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine Ave. from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
This parade, started by Willie Pittman in 1963, is the second oldest African-American parade in Chicago. Pittman wanted to give Englewood’s young people an alternative to the gangs and other negative influences. After a two-year hiatus, Vaughn and Maurice “Pha Tal” Perkins brought it back in 2014.
Vaughn said keeping the parade's legacy going was very personal and important.
“That's why I worked hard to restore the parade because it brings the community together and it aids in restoring that sense of pride back into this rich community,” she said. “This is one day that we come together in the name of peace and encourage our kids to stay in school."
Children attendees will receive free school supplies. There will be free food, community vendors, as well as live entertainment from local performers. There’s even a surprise Grand Marshal, and the South Shore Drill Team will also be in attendance.
Vaughn said that this parade is different from the Bud Billiken Parade in that participants don’t have to pay an entry fee to march. Registration is online but people can sign up at the parade from 8:30-10 a.m. Last year more than 100 groups and performers marched in the procession.
The event has always been a peaceful one, Vaughn said, adding that it’s a day where the community comes together to show “the good in Englewood.”
“I think it’s important to continue having a community event such as this,” she said. “I think it’s needed.”
People can give school supplies and other donations to the parade. Sponsorship packages are available. For more information, contact the parade committee at 773-619-7247 or englewoodparade@gmail.com, or visit the website at www.englewoodparade.org, where a full parade route is listed.
Sponsors include: The Englewood Square, Teamwork Englewood, We R Englewood, Greater Englewood CDC, U.S. Bank, Marquette Bank, White Castle, Black McDonald's Operators Association, WKKC 89.3 FM, 107.5 WGCI, V103, Inspiration 1390AM, Leading Ladies of Chicago, Ogden Park Advisory Council, Disparti Law Group, Howard Brown Health 63rd St., Chicago Public Schools Leadership Learning, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Whole Foods, NTruth, Cortri Trotter Productions and I Grow Chicago.
After the parade, the Midnight Circus in the Park will be at Ogden Park at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds will go to the park. Vaughn is the president of the Ogden Park Advisory Council. The circus will be Aug. 27-28. Tickets can be purchased in advance at midnightcircus.net.
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