When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: The parade begins at 39th Street and King Drive and ends at 55th Street in Washington Park. Free. 312-225-3710.
What: This will be the 75th year for the second largest parade in the country and the largest African-American parade.
“A Time to Encourage and Educate Our Youth,” is the theme of the parade and its other family activities that have come to be a back-to-school celebration. The procession includes high school drill teams and marching bands, floats by community businesses and local politicians, local celebrities and athletes.
Officially, the parade festivities include vendors selling wares and food to the more than 1.2 million expected spectators at the parade’s stopping point, Washington Park. But veteran paradegoers stake out their positions along King Drive and throughout the park more than three hours before the procession. They also offer food and beverages–and sometimes wares–to family, friends and strangers from homemade grills, buffet-style trays or large ice coolers for a small fee.
What’s new: Screaming teens can save their cute outfits and lungs since there won’t be any young heartthrobs–B2K was last year’s headliner–slated on the post-parade concert last year. In fact, there won’t be a concert this year.
Forecast: Cloudy. If you don’t already know the logistics of the Bud Billiken Day Parade, it can start out more a trying task than an enjoyable summer outing. It’s a huge gathering that rings like a family picnic: Chaotic and unorganized, but in the end, you’ll be glad you were there.