Local
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Moves to 7:45 a.m. Start, First Time in 92 Years
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will begin at 7:45 a.m. on Nov. 26, an hour earlier than usual, to accommodate an 8 a.m. CBS Chicago broadcast ahead of the Bears-Lions game. Former Bears cornerback Charles 'Peanut' Tillman will serve as grand marshal.
CHICAGO â For the first time in its 92-year history, the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will step off at 7:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, an hour earlier than in past years, a parade spokesperson confirmed.
The earlier start is timed to allow the parade's television broadcast to begin at 8 a.m. on CBS Chicago, clearing the way for the Chicago Bears' Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Detroit Lions. Pregame coverage is set to follow at 10 a.m.
The parade will take place Thursday, Nov. 26, along State Street, starting at Ida B. Wells Drive and proceeding north to Randolph Street. Admission is free.
Organizers said the new schedule eliminates the hour of stage performances that previously took place before the procession entered the television broadcast zone.
This year's grand marshal will be Charles "Peanut" Tillman, the former Bears cornerback who played 12 seasons with the team. Tillman was a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year recipient for the 2013 season and is widely known for the "Peanut Punch," a tactic he popularized to force fumbles.
Joining Tillman as an honored guest will be Jake Connelly, a 14-year-old actor from Arlington Heights who played Derek Turnbow in the final season of Netflix's "Stranger Things." Connelly recently appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Wrigley Field, according to a news release.
More than 80 entries are expected to travel down State Street, including 14 giant balloons, seven marching bands from across the country, five local marching bands, six equestrian units and 15 performances. New attractions include a Cookie Monster balloon and a new sleigh for Santa Claus.
The earlier start means parade-goers will need to set their alarms an hour earlier, but organizers hope the adjusted schedule will keep the broadcast running smoothly and allow families to enjoy the festivities before the Bears kick off.