Bud Billiken Parade | Chicago, IL

 

Billed as the oldest and largest African American parade in the U.S.,
Chicago’s Bud Billiken Parade has been held on every second Saturday
since 1929. Attracting thousands of spectators along its route, the
parade marks for many the unofficial beginning of the end of summer.
It features politicians, beauty queens, celebrities, musical
performers, and dozens of high-school drill teams, floats, and
marching bands. High-profile celebrities and dignitaries have attended
the parade over the years, including Presidents Truman and Kennedy,
Michael Jordan, Joe Louis, Ali, Duke Ellington, Oprah, Lena Horne,
Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway, Paul Robeson and Billie Holiday.
Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, served as grand marshal
in 2007. Visit the Bud Billiken Parade Official Website for additional information.

Other interesting facts:

• The parade is named after the Billiken, a Chinese mythical character
  who is the guardian angel of little children.
• Its not only the largest African-American parade in the country, Bud
  Billiken is the largest parade in Chicago and the nation’s second
  largest parade after the Rose Bowl Parade.