He’s a crowd favorite, and he’s definitely hard to miss.
Ozinga’s Timmy the Turkey will be “trotting” down State Street in this year’s Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. He’s a big boy too …. over 36,000 pounds!
Don’t miss Timmy and the rest of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving morning – LIVE on State Street in Downtown Chicago or LIVE at home on WGN or WGN America.
This group made headlines as they flipped over the competition to reach the America’s Got Talent semi-finals. They’re back again in this year’s Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
The Chicago Boyz is a professional gymnastics troupe consisting of talented young men and boys from the Chicago area. They are known for their high-flying flips and unique jump rope talents.
Founded in 1999 by professional gymnast Tim Shaw, these young inner city youth are taught discipline, respect, hard work, integrity and teamwork. Members must maintain a “C” average in school, are not allowed to drop out of school, associate with gangs, drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Through Tim’s positive impact, many kids have not only become professionally polished gymnasts but turned their lives around in the process.
They have performed at NBA (regular season & playoff games) and college halftime shows, professional circuses, festivals, theme parks and schools throughout the country. They’ve even been on The Ellen Show, Steve Harvey Show, Today and Good Morning America.
You can find out more about the group by visiting ChicagoBoyzAcrobaticTeam.com.
This is one of our favorite groups. If you have never seen the fast-paced, athletic Hromovytsia Ukranian Dance Ensemble … you’re in for a treat. The group will be performing during the first hour of the upcoming Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, which you can see live on WGN, WGN America or from our TV Zone on State Street.
Hromovytsia, translated into English as “Thunderstorm”, is a dance ensemble based on talent, heart and soul. Under the direction of Roxana Dykyj-Pylypczak, the group boasts a 38-year history and is comprised of over 35 dancers dedicated to reshaping the very definition of Ukrainian dance and delighting audiences everywhere.
In 2003, Hromovytsia made its first trip to Ukraine and performed for audiences in six different Ukrainian cities. Four years later, the ensemble completed a successful 17-day concert tour of Western Europe where it performed for audiences in Strasbourg, Munich, Florence, and Rome. In 2011, Hromovytsia returned to Ukraine, performing in four major cities: Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, and Kyiv. In June of 2017, Hromovytsia will embark on its fourth tour, this time to Spain. The ensemble looks forward to performing for the people of Madrid and Barcelona and showing them their love for Ukraine and dance.
Hromovytsia’s Artistic Director from Roman Pylypczak on Vimeo.
Throughout its history, Hromovytsia has continuously immersed itself into both the Ukrainian and greater Chicagoland communities. The ensemble was honored to perform several times at one of the largest dance festivals in the United States—Dance Chicago. At these performances, the ensemble quickly became a crowd favorite and also gave Hromovytsia the opportunity to share a stage with some of the most influential dance companies in the nation, including The Joffrey Ballet, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance and the Hubbard Street Dancers.
For over ten years, Hromovytsia has become a staple and audience favorite at the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, performing annually for more than 400,000 parade- goers and over 5 million live television viewers. Other notable performances in Chicago include the official grand opening of Chicago’s Millennium Park, Chicago’s Sister Cities Festival (with guests Barrack Obama and Mayor Richard Daley), a live appearance on NBC 5’s Morning Show with host Dick Johnson and special appearances at philanthropic events for the University of Chicago Cancer Research and the Fermi Lab National Physics Laboratory.
Outside of Chicago, Hromovytsia has performed at a number of festivals across Canada and the United States, including Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival, Verkhovyna Ukrainian Festival in Glen Spey, NY, the Washington D.C. Ukrainian Festival, Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba and the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival in Toronto, Ontario—boasting a weekend attendance of over 250,000 people.
In the years to come, Hromovytsia looks toward a future of delivering innovative works that capture the splendor and richness of Ukraine’s culture, history and traditions. Through its revolutionary approach to Ukrainian dance, the ensemble hopes to reshape the very definition of folk dance, continually pushing Hromovytsia to new choreographic heights and delighting audiences everywhere.
Get more information about the group at Hromovytsia.com.
Poo Crew
Your group of 3-4 people can dress up, decorate your poo bin, and make sure nobody steps in “it.” These volunteers get the largest cheers, and at the same time, you can encourage spectators to cheer louder. Do it right, and this will be the most fun you’ve ever had on Thanksgiving!
Give Back to the Community this Thanksgiving – Help Provide 3 Hours of Family Entertainment to TV Viewers Across the Country
Every volunteer role is important, as each role is vital to our goal of creating smiles across the nation – right from State Street in Downtown Chicago. Find out more about our volunteer positions by clicking here.
Application Deadline is October 15
Each individual volunteer must fill out his/her own application to be considered. Each applicant must have their own e-mail address. Applicants can no longer have multiple people under one e-mail address. CFA Events cannot guarantee that groups will be assigned to the same volunteer position, but will try our best to fulfill requests. You must be in good health to participate. Volunteers may be required to walk in excess of 2 miles.All volunteer applicants must be at least 12 years of age as of Wednesday, November 21, 2018. To be a balloon handler or a part of VIP/Hospitality on Parade Day, you must be at least 18 years of age as of Wednesday, November 21, 2018.
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade has had many esteemed Grand Marshals of the past (and yes, there is only one ‘l’ in Grand Marshal). From Top Athletes to Talented Actors and Actresses, there are some famous faces that have graced State Street as its top Honored Guest.
2017
Ronald McDonald, noted icon around the world, served as Grand Marshal for the 2017 Parade.
2016
Matt Walsh, accomplished actor who plays Mike McClintock in Veep, was the parade’s Grand Marshal. Matt is a native Chicagoan and founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv group.
2015
David Arquette, star of stage and screen – and one time WCW World Wrestling Champion, was the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Parade. He was starring as the lead role in Broadway in Chicago’s Sherlock Holmes.
2014
Dee Snider, former lead singer of Twister Sister, was the 2014 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Grand Marshal. That year, he was performing in his Rock and Roll Christmas Tale in Chicago.
2013
Drew Sidora lead the 2013 Thanksgiving Parade as Grand Marshal. The actress was starring at T-Boz in CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.
2012
In 2012, WWE Champion and Chicago native CM Punk served as Grand Marshal of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
As you go back further in time, you’ll see that Olympic Softball Legend Jennie Finch, Flashdance and Chicago Code Actress Jennifer Beals, and Emmy-award Winning Actress Holland Taylor served as Grand Marshal of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
What famous celebrities will be in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade this year? And, who will take on the role of Grand Marshal? Stay tuned to this web site or our Facebook page for all of the latest news on our nationally-televised parade.
America’s Got Talent has had some amazing performances on its stage, including many that even Simon Cowell couldn’t X. Here are just some of the AGT performers who have performed at the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, right on State Street.
Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team
This group of flippers, jump-ropers and acrobats made news for making the semi-finals of America’s Got Talent. They also appeared on The Ellen Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Good Morning America and The Today Show.
Strongman Tulga
Tulga not only twirled a large log on his back with the ends on fire, he then proceeded to twirl a log with Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel riding on swings attached to the ends!
Those Funny Little People
Season 6 was graced with the presence of Those Funny Little People, the puppet group that made some noise with their rendition of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.”
Laura Bretan
Laura turned heads with her performance in Season 11 of America’s Got Talent. The opera singer earned a golden buzzer from judge Mel B!
Musicality
This high school singing group is actually from Curie High School here in the Chicagoland area. The group started in 2008, and now is an audition-based ensemble.
Make sure to tune into the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday, November 22. The parade starts at 8am, featuring an hour of staged performances of truly talented groups from all across the nation. Catch the parade is LIVE on WGN and WGN America, or watch it in person on Chicago’s famous State Street. Don’t miss your chance to check out the parade from the TV Zone, the best place to watch the first-hour staged performances.
Every volunteer role is important with the Parade, as you are vital to our goal of creating smiles across the nation – right from State Street in Downtown Chicago. We help provide three hours of free, family entertainment every Thanksgiving morning.
Banner Carriers
These volunteers are actually IN the parade! You and a partner will carry a banner introducing a performance group, celebrity, sponsor or other important person to the streetside audience.
You may walk up to two miles on Parade day.
Poo Crew
It’s exactly what you think it is, but you’ll join a group of people having more fun than you’d ever imagine. Dress up yourself, your cart, your shovel, and make the streets clean by following the equestrian units.
You may walk up to two miles on Parade day.
Block Marshals
Help the Parade staff control the pace of the Parade, using teamwork and communication with your fellow Marshals and leaders of the performing groups. The Route Marshals help make the entire production look smooth and polished.
Apply Today
Find out more about all of our available volunteer positions by clicking here. Remember, you must apply to be a volunteer by October 15. This is going to be one of the coolest things that you’ve ever had a chance to be a part of.
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