A sea of colorful costumes and joyful faces filled the streets of Chicago on Thursday morning as the city's 91st Thanksgiving Parade made its way down State Street. The annual event, which dates back to 1934, was a much-needed respite from the tense atmosphere that had been building in the city following Operation Midway Blitz and a pair of shootings in the Loop.
As hundreds of excited parade-goers lined the streets, many couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to come together and celebrate the holiday season. For Lupe Moya, 37, attending the parade was a way to show that even in difficult times, Chicagoans could still find joy and community.
"It's really, really important for people to come out and show that we're not afraid and that we're able to all be together and be here for the same cause," Moya said. "It's pretty much the same thing every year, it hasn't changed. We like that it's not a lot of different changes."
The parade itself was a dazzling display of color and music, featuring marching bands from Oak Grove and Lake Zurich high schools, as well as performances by members of the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids and practitioners of Falun Dafa.
As the parade made its way down State Street, it was clear that Chicagoans were determined to put the city's troubles behind them for at least one day. "It's a strong city," said Melissa Taylor, 44, who had traveled from Madison, Wisconsin with her family to attend their first-ever Thanksgiving Parade. "They are good at standing up for themselves."
For Jay Castillo, 52, bringing his three sons to the parade was a way to kick off the holiday season on a positive note. "I'm looking forward to getting the holiday season started," he said. "[Between] all the protests [and] violence, hopefully this reunites the city into some sort of peacefulness at the start of a joyful season."
As the parade came to an end and the Setna iO turkey made its way down the final stretch of State Street, it was clear that Chicagoans had once again found a way to come together and celebrate. The 91st Thanksgiving Parade may have been a brief respite from the city's troubles, but for those who attended, it was a much-needed reminder of what truly matters: community, joy, and gratitude.
As hundreds of excited parade-goers lined the streets, many couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to come together and celebrate the holiday season. For Lupe Moya, 37, attending the parade was a way to show that even in difficult times, Chicagoans could still find joy and community.
"It's really, really important for people to come out and show that we're not afraid and that we're able to all be together and be here for the same cause," Moya said. "It's pretty much the same thing every year, it hasn't changed. We like that it's not a lot of different changes."
The parade itself was a dazzling display of color and music, featuring marching bands from Oak Grove and Lake Zurich high schools, as well as performances by members of the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids and practitioners of Falun Dafa.
As the parade made its way down State Street, it was clear that Chicagoans were determined to put the city's troubles behind them for at least one day. "It's a strong city," said Melissa Taylor, 44, who had traveled from Madison, Wisconsin with her family to attend their first-ever Thanksgiving Parade. "They are good at standing up for themselves."
For Jay Castillo, 52, bringing his three sons to the parade was a way to kick off the holiday season on a positive note. "I'm looking forward to getting the holiday season started," he said. "[Between] all the protests [and] violence, hopefully this reunites the city into some sort of peacefulness at the start of a joyful season."
As the parade came to an end and the Setna iO turkey made its way down the final stretch of State Street, it was clear that Chicagoans had once again found a way to come together and celebrate. The 91st Thanksgiving Parade may have been a brief respite from the city's troubles, but for those who attended, it was a much-needed reminder of what truly matters: community, joy, and gratitude.
. I mean, yeah, there's been some stuff going on in the city that might've made you want to stay indoors, but at the end of the day, this is what Thanksgiving's all about - community and gratitude 
. It's not about ignoring the problems or pretending they don't exist, it's about finding a way to still enjoy life and appreciate the good stuff with the people around you. And honestly, that's pretty beautiful 
. The parade itself was awesome too, I love how diverse all the performers were - from marching bands to traditional dances like Falun Dafa 
. It just goes to show that even in tough times, there's always room for a little joy and celebration 
.
! It's so cool to see people showing up in all their colorful costumes and enjoying the parade. It's actually really uplifting to see everyone having a good time and forgetting about the troubles for a bit 
. I think it's awesome that Lupe Moya, Melissa Taylor, and Jay Castillo are so passionate about community and bringing people together again after those tough times in the city. And honestly, who wouldn't want to kick off the holiday season with some festive cheer and a healthy dose of positivity? 
! like, chicagoans know how to throw a party even in hard times 
. and can you believe the schools involved? oak grove and lake z Zurich high schools slaying the marching band game 
. it's so heartwarming to see everyone coming together for one day to forget their troubles. i'm def gonna try to convince my school to organize something similar, maybe a holiday market or talent show 
it's like a breath of fresh air after all the drama that's been going on in the city lately 
Lupe's quote really hit home with me, it's amazing how something as simple as a parade can bring everyone together again 
and let's be real, who doesn't love a good parade?! 
... i mean idk about you guys but i felt like the whole city needed a breath of fresh air & some good vibes lol... i love how ppl are just embracing the joy & positivity, no matter what's been happening in the city 
I love how the city's still got that spirit, even when things get tough. It's like, we're all in this together, and on days like today, it feels like everything's gonna be alright.
I'm so glad to see people letting loose like this! It's amazing how something as simple as a parade can bring everyone together, even on days when the city feels divided 
. Chicagoans really know how to show they care about each other, and it's infectious - I love seeing all those smiling faces 
& it was like the whole city just forgot about all their probs for 1 day lol! chicagoans r so strong 
. it was literally the opposite - everyone was smiling & having a blast 
. i'm def gonna try to live my best life like this every month, lol! 
i mean we've had some rough stuff goin down in chicago lately with all the protests and shootings but to see everyone comin together like that is just the most amazing thing 
and jay bringing his kids to the parade? that's just the most heartwarming thing ever 
gotta say, even though chicago has its problems, it's clear we've got some amazing ppl who care about each other 
.