Thank you, TimeOut Magazine!
In an article published on their website, TimeOut named the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade as the #2 Thanksgiving Parade in the nation. We are truly grateful for the honor of appearing on this list.
You can read the article for yourself at https://www.timeout.com/usa/things-to-do/best-thanksgiving-parades-usa.
See it LIVE Thursday, November 24 at 8AM
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 Boliviano are 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; 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.
About Weigel Broadcasting Co.
Weigel Broadcasting Co. is a family-owned media company based in Chicago, Illinois. The company owns and operates national television networks, as well as local broadcast stations throughout the country. Weigel is the leader in the multicast television network space with MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, the number-one rated and distributed multicast network, as well as the Movies! Network in cooperation with the Fox Television Stations, the DECADES Network, the H&I Heroes & Icons Network, the Start TV Network in association with the CBS Television Stations, and Story Television. Weigel produces the original network TV programs Toon In With Me, Svengoolie, Collector’s Call and Through the Decades. Weigel’s local stations include CBS, ABC, The CW, MyNet and Telemundo network affiliates. Weigel and its affiliate companies broadcast network and independent television stations serving New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Portland, St. Louis, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Hartford, Milwaukee, Des Moines, South Bend, Evansville and Rockford. Weigel is the creator of the nationally syndicated music format MeTV FM. For more information on Weigel, visit: https://www.weigelbroadcasting.com/.
Throughout our leadup to the parade as well as during the parade broadcast, you are going to hear a lot about Christmas is Not Cancelled. It’s about purchasing toys for children in need, and they partner directly with Childhelp, Toys for Tots, and Project Orphans.
The concept is pretty simple, with the results being extraordinary.
When you contribute to Christmas is Not Cancelled, the organization purchases toys which are given to children in need. While doing so, you earn entries into sweepstakes. The prizes are amazing (which we’ll mention in a second), and we do have to say our favorite in the Thanksgiving Parade Experience!
The organization is able to make the toy purchases in bulk – allowing Christmas in Not Cancelled to provide children of all ages with toys and books. Their bulk purchasing power means they’re able to buy more toys than you or I could buy for the same amount of money, meaning our contributions go a longer way here than on our own! In just over two-and-a-half years, they have achieved over $1 million in giving impact.
Ale Boggiano (left) and Jen Lilley (right)
Jen Lilley, host of this year’s parade , and Ale Boggiano came together to form Christmas is Not Cancelled after coming to the conclusion that the charitable fundraising model is broken and outdated. Non-profits have limited budgets and lots to accomplish.
“I am beyond thrilled to be hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade and Christmas Is Not Cancelled, Inc is honored to partner with such an incredible event steeped in rich history and tradition,” stated Jen Lilley. “We love the wonderful people of Chicago and all across the United States who are helping provide gifts to children who need them most this holiday season so that Christmas Is Not Cancelled! And who knows, maybe someone from the great city of Chicago will win the Ultimate Christmas by helping our mission!”
Christmas is Not Cancelled has become a series of giving campaigns featuring family-friendly celebrities and community building. The, along with a community of world changers, come together to spread Christmas cheer all year long.
“Our goal is to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for all ! We do this by bringing joy to people at home during the holidays through our Christmas University program and by giving amazing toys to children in need so we can make their Christmas special. This year we have a goal of 25,000 toys going to Toys for Tots, Childhelp and Project Orphans,” stated Ale Boggiano.
They hold two fundraisers during the year to build community and keep the program going. They have tangible goals (backpacks with school supplies during Camp Christmas and toys during Christmas University) and give 10% of the price of these programs (as well as all of the merchandise donated) to the non-profits listed above.
Some of the prizes (and when you can win them) include:
To find out more information and all of the sweepstakes rules, visit ChristmasIsNotCancelled.com. You can also find out more Digital Interactive Celebrity Experiences and Christmas Themed Classes, themed merchandise, and much more!
Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 24, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
CHICAGO, IL (October 11, 2022) – The award-winning Chicago Thanksgiving Parade (‘Where grateful hearts gather’) returns on Thursday, November 24, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT, traveling up Chicago’s legendary State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street. This free family tradition joyfully showcases the best talent from across the nation, including marching bands, festive floats, staged performances, equestrian units, cultural performance troupes, and inflatables, all led by celebrity hosts and a special visitor from the North Pole—offering a celebration with jolly sights and sounds for attendees of all ages.
New for ’22, CW26 will broadcast the entire Parade, airing live 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. This year’s Parade will be co-hosted by actors Jen Lilley (Days of Our Lives, Royally Wrapped for Christmas) and Jesse Hutch (Batwoman, Dream Wedding), 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.
For those seeking an extra-special experience, the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade offers VIP seating providing the best view of the Parade and the opportunity to enjoy the staged-for-TV performances right before their eyes, in addition to the forward-motion parade. Tickets for VIP access to the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade are $60 and available for purchase at www.chicagothanksgivingparade.com.
“CW26 is proud to be the new home of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Our partnership reinforces our commitment to supporting Chicago and creating lasting holiday memories for our viewers,” said Steven Farber, Weigel Broadcasting Senior Vice President of Operations.
Jen Lilley expresses her excitement for hosting: “I am absolutely thrilled to be co-hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade! As an ambassador for the ‘Christmas Is Not Cancelled’ non-profit, which raises funds for families across the nation to receive Christmas gifts, I’m grateful for this opportunity to help spread the word and to spread joy for families and children in need!” Jesse Hutch shares the sentiment: “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.”
Attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators each year, the 2022 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade features an eclectic roster of festive participants from across the city and the globe, including:
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade sponsors include Canadian Pacific, CW26, NASCAR, Ozinga, Santa Claus Oath Foundation, Santa’s Village, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, and WorldStrides OnStage. For more information and updates about the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, visit www.chicagothanksgivingparade.com.
About Great American Family Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming,including original holiday movies, rom-coms and fan-favorite series that celebrate faith, family and country. Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday-themed movies and specials. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is part of the Great American Media portfolio of brands. Follow Great American Family on Twitter: @GACfamilyTV, Facebook: @GACfamilytv and Instagram: @gactv.
About Chicago Thanksgiving ParadeOriginally called the Christmas Caravan in the 1930s, the Parade, now in its 88 th year, was created in 1934 to help lift the spirits of residents suffering through the Great Depression. Since then, it has developed into a full-scale spectacle that celebrates the holiday season. What once started as an attempt to boost Chicago’s economy, has evolved into a cherished holiday tradition for Americans across the country. Over sixteen different cultures will share their enriched traditions with Chicago’s Parade this Thanksgiving morning. The sights on State Street give the audience a chance to travel the world and embrace other traditions, all without leaving downtown Chicago. Follow Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Photo captions (all courtesy of Chicago Thanksgiving Parade): (from left) Jen Lilley, Jesse Hutch, Teddy Turkey Balloon from previous Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from previous Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
Media contact: Beth Silverman I President I The Silverman Group, Inc.
213 W. Institute Place, Suite 501, Chicago, IL 60610
312.560.4783 (cell) │ www.SilvermanGroupChicago.com
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