Chicagoans gathered on State Street to celebrate Thanksgiving in a vibrant display of community and resilience. The 91st Chicago Thanksgiving Parade kicked off the festivities, featuring marching bands from Oak Grove and Lake Zurich high schools, the Setna iO turkey, and performers from various cultural groups.
For many attendees, the parade was more than just a spectacle - it was an essential part of their family's tradition. Lupe Moya, 37, has been attending the parade with her parents and cousins for over a decade, saying "It's pretty much the same thing every year, it hasn't changed. We like that it's not a lot of different changes." Melissa Taylor, Casey Valdovinos, and their daughter Lydia made a special trip from Madison, Wisconsin to experience the event, with Taylor remarking, "I've been on my bucket list for a long time so we decided to make the trip."
As the parade began, hundreds of people lined the streets, many dressed in scarves, blankets, and hand warmers to brave the chilly autumn morning. Jay Castillo brought his three sons from south-suburban Blue Island, saying "I'm looking forward to getting the holiday season started. Between all the protests [and] violence, hopefully this reunites the city into some sort of peacefulness at the start of a joyful season."
Despite recent tensions and violence in the city, the parade was a testament to Chicago's resilience and community spirit. Members from Mobile, Alabama, participated as part of the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids, while practitioners of Falun Dafa also took part. The event reflected the city's enduring spirit of togetherness, creativity, and community pride.
As the Setna iO turkey made its way down State Street, families watched with delight, enjoying the festive atmosphere. For many Chicagoans, this parade was more than just a celebration - it was an opportunity to put aside divisions and come together as a community.
For many attendees, the parade was more than just a spectacle - it was an essential part of their family's tradition. Lupe Moya, 37, has been attending the parade with her parents and cousins for over a decade, saying "It's pretty much the same thing every year, it hasn't changed. We like that it's not a lot of different changes." Melissa Taylor, Casey Valdovinos, and their daughter Lydia made a special trip from Madison, Wisconsin to experience the event, with Taylor remarking, "I've been on my bucket list for a long time so we decided to make the trip."
As the parade began, hundreds of people lined the streets, many dressed in scarves, blankets, and hand warmers to brave the chilly autumn morning. Jay Castillo brought his three sons from south-suburban Blue Island, saying "I'm looking forward to getting the holiday season started. Between all the protests [and] violence, hopefully this reunites the city into some sort of peacefulness at the start of a joyful season."
Despite recent tensions and violence in the city, the parade was a testament to Chicago's resilience and community spirit. Members from Mobile, Alabama, participated as part of the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids, while practitioners of Falun Dafa also took part. The event reflected the city's enduring spirit of togetherness, creativity, and community pride.
As the Setna iO turkey made its way down State Street, families watched with delight, enjoying the festive atmosphere. For many Chicagoans, this parade was more than just a celebration - it was an opportunity to put aside divisions and come together as a community.
! Despite some rough patches lately, it's amazing to see so many people coming together to celebrate and show off their community spirit 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good parade with marching bands, performers, and a giant turkey 
? But what really gets me is how this event brings families closer together - like Lupe Moya, who's been going with her parents and cousins for over 10 years 
. And it's so cool that people from out of town made the trip to experience it too! 
Madison, Wisconsin to Chicago? That's some serious dedication 
. Let's keep celebrating our city's resilience and community pride 
!
. like, yeah sure, people gathered on State St, but thats cuz its Thanksgiving, duh! & whats w/ all the marching bands & performers? didnt we just have a parade like this 5 yrs ago? 
. & omg, Mobile Azalea Trail Maids showin up... wut r they doin here? 
. But at the same time, some might argue that keeping things exactly the same every year isn't exactly fostering growth or progress 
. Like, I get why Lupe Moya likes the familiarity of it all, but doesn't it feel a bit...safe? 
.
I mean, can you believe how beautiful it is when ppl come together like that? 
They're just like, "Hey, let's enjoy the holiday season and put our differences aside." That's exactly what we need more of – community spirit and love! 
I'm totally inspired by this whole thing. It makes me wanna attend more events like this! 
. It's like, the whole city takes a break from everything else and just celebrates life, you know? And yeah, it's dope that people are still holding onto traditions even when things get tough in the city. I mean, 91 years of a parade is no joke! The fact that it brings folks from all over Wisconsin to experience it is just amazing 
. Chicagoans are truly showing us what resilience looks like! 
. The fact that folks from all over are making it a point to attend this event, even traveling far just for it, is truly a testament to their spirit 
. It's exactly what we need more of in the world right now! 
. Don't get me wrong, I love my city and all, but is this really the best we can do? A parade with marching bands, performers, and floats... it's just so formulaic 
. And don't even get me started on the Setna iO turkey 
.
, but sometimes I feel like we're just going through the motions here 
.
. on the bright side, it's heartwarming to see ppl from different parts of the country showing support for chicago 
and I love that they're still keeping the tradition going despite everything else that's been happening in the city. It's so great to see people from all walks of life coming together, like those Mobile Azalea Trail Maids - it's a beautiful reminder that even in tough times, there's always room for community and unity 
The fact that people are making trips from out of state to experience this just shows how special it must feel to them... I'm kinda low-key jealous 
. But anyway, Chicagoans are really good at coming together like that, it's actually kinda inspiring seeing people from different places & cultures enjoying the same event