Rolling Into the 2018 Parade – Chicago WHEEL JAM & Cirqus Experience

20 of the best wheel gymnasts will literally be rolling down State Street during the Uncle Dan’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, led by former world champion Wolfgang Bientzle.

The Cirques Experience Wheel Jam: Chicago Outfit halftime show from KMadHere on Vimeo.

Bientzle teaches classes through The Cirques Experience, as well as Chicago Park District, to help teach you how to become the master of the wheel.  You can also find out more at https://www.chicagowheeljam.com/.

Soul Steppin’ from Michigan City

Another crowd-favorite and long-time parade group, the Michigan City Soul Steppers Drill Team will be back for the 2018 Uncle Dan’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  This high energy musical marching and performing group consists of drumline and steppers that will be showing us “The Art of Stepping.”

The team consists of members aged 12 and up, under the direction of Lyn Isbell.  They are a faith-based, performing arts, non-profit 501(c)3 community youth organization. You can find out more about the group at https://www.facebook.com/mcsoulsteppers/.

This Could Be The Nation’s Biggest Turkey – Welcome Back Ozinga’s Timmy!

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.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade

Welcome Back to the Parade, Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team


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.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade