November 7, 2022, CHICAGO IL – On Thanksgiving morning, November 24, 2022, television viewers in Chicago will begin a new tradition: Watching the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade live on CW26 from 8AM – 11AM.
The parade celebrates 88 years of entertaining families across the country and kicks off the holiday season with marching bands, floats, giant balloons, equestrian acts, performances and more. The Marist High School marching band, Jesse White Tumbling Team and dance group Renacer Bolivianoare just a few of the acts from across the nation that will strut down Chicago’s legendary State Street to celebrate the arrival of Santa!
“We are thrilled to be partnering with CW26 to air the live broadcast of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade to all of Chicagoland,” said Phil Purevich, Managing Director of the parade. “With the support of CW26 and Weigel Broadcasting, we are positioned to have a great show this year!”
Celebrities Jen Lilley (Days of Our Lives, Royally Wrapped for Christmas) & Jesse Hutch (CW’s Batwoman, Arrow, Supernatural and Dream Wedding) will ring in the holidays as this year’s co-hosts of the parade. Lilley and Hutch will soon to co-star in the Great American Family network’s B&B Merry, one of the holiday’s most anticipated movies, premiering Sunday, December 4, 2022.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be co-hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade!” said Lilley. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to help spread the word and to spread joy for families and children in need!”
Jesse Hutch added, “I look forward to supporting the amazing people of Chicago and hosting the Thanksgiving Parade with Jen. To say that I am thankful is not only true but also fitting for the day of celebration and reflection.”
Local Chicago-area marching bands include: Bishop Noll Institute; Bloom Township High School; Kankakee High School; Lake Zurich High School; Marist High School; Merrillville High School; Southland College Prep Charter High School; and Thornwood High School.
Other local parade entries feature: American Sidesaddle Association, Escaramuza las Monarcas, Herder Holiday Horses, SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program, the 501st Legion Midwest Garrison; Aztec Dance-Xochitl-Quetzal; Bloom Township High School Choir; Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team; Chicago Spirit Brigade; Cirque Experience; Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline; Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago; Lithuanian American Community; Ozinga; Pro Dance Elite Studios; Shockwave Custom Convertibles; Team Shockwave; The Barefoot Hawaiian; Thistle and Heather Highland Dancers; and Windy City Ghostbusters.
There will be staged performances from: The American Blues Theater; Ballet Folklorico Mexicanos; Chicago Korean Dance Company; Huaxing Arts Group; and Music Theater Works; among others.
And expect to be wowed by floats from local organizations: Casa de la Cultura Guatemalteca en Chicago; Chicago Chinese Culture & Arts Society; Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association; Punjabi Cultural Society; Santa’s Village; Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago; Chicagoland Toys for Tots; and the Wu Zhi Lin Performing Arts Association.
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will air live on CW26 on Thursday, November 24 from 8AM to 11AM. CW26 can be found on WCIU, Channel 26.1, XFINITY 183|1026, RCN 6/606, WOW 10/207, Dish 26, Direct TV 26, Spectrum Charter 22/616 and U-Verse 10/1010.
