Naperville’s Huaxing Arts Group and Crystal Lake Strikers perform in the 90th annual Chicago Thanksgiving Parade

Naperville’s Huaxing Arts Group returns once again to perform in Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade. Founded in 2015, the group presents classical Chinese dance.
Courtesy of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation

Naperville’s own Huaxing Arts Group and the Crystal Lake Strikers are among the local artists participating in Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 28th. The 90th annual parade will travel Chicago’s iconic State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street at 8 a.m

The local Asian dance ensembles were selected from hundreds of entries to join dozens of other participating artists from across the country in celebrating this season of giving with festive sights and songs for all ages.

Special guests at the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade this year include: Lynn Whitfield, Emmy Award-winning actress for her role in “The Josephine Baker Story” (1991) and currently starring in “The Chi”; and performances by contemporary country music stars Reyna Roberts, recently featured in Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter,” and Donnie Lee Strickland. The hosts of this year’s parade are Rock 95.5 personalities: Morning Show host Marris and Late Night Show host Maria Palmer.

The Crystal Lake Strikers drumline delights crowds along the route of the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Courtesy of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation

For those looking for a truly special experience, the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade offers VIP seating with the best views of the parade and the opportunity to enjoy the staged-for-television performances right before your eyes in addition to the forward motion parade. Tickets for VIP access to the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade are $70 and can be purchased at www.chicagothanksgivingparade.com.

The parade features a diverse list of festive participants from across the city, country and world, including:

• Staged live entertainment performances from 8 to 9 a.m.: ArtEast Chicago Dance Troupe, Ballet Folklorico Sones Mexicanos, Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline, Dong Fang Performing Arts Association, Donnie Lee Strickland, Huaxing Arts Group, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago, Lajkonik Song and Dance Ensemble, Musical Theater Works, Renacer Boliviano Inc., Southern Stars featuring OVERNIGHT and Texas A&M International University

• Riding groups: American Sidesaddle Association, Soul Harbor Ranch Animal Therapy Program, Herder Holiday Horses and Ray of Hope Riders

• Festive floats: Chicago Chinese Performing Arts Ensemble, Casa de la Cultura Guatemala en Chicago, Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association, Oktoberfest USA (La Crosse, Wisconsin), CTSHealth Integrated Wellness, Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago, Saint Paul Winter Carnival 2024 Royal Family and Vulcan Krewe and Wu Zhi Lin Performing Arts Association

• Special Groups: 501st Legion Midwest Garrison, Ballet Folklorico Yolotzin, Bloom Township, High School District 206 Show Choir, Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team, Chicago Spirit Brigade, Cirques Experience, Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline, DUDE Wipes, Jesse White Tumbling Team, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago, Michigan City Soul Steppers Drill Team, Miss Illinois 2024 Breana Bagley, Miss Illinois’ Teen 2024 Lucy Kuelper, Mobile Azalea Trail Maids, Ozinga, Pro Dance Elite Studios, Rebecca McCarthy School of Dance, Renacer Boliviano Inc., Sterling Silver Studio, Team Shockwave, Texas A&M International University, The Unicycling Society of America, Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers, and Windy City Ghostbusters

• Marching Bands: Abilene High School, Back of the Yards College Preparatory, Bishop Noll Institute, Bloom Township District 206, Bremen High School, Carson High School, Dr. Martin Luther King College Prep High School, Heartbeat Music & Performing Arts Academy, Kankakee High School, Kelly College Prep, Marist High School, Odessa High School, Orange High School, Plainfield East High School, Proviso East High School, Riverdale High School, Shawnee High School, Southland College Prep Charter High School, Thornwood Marching Thunderbirds, Urban Renewal and Woodland High School.

Santa Claus waves to parade-goers at the 2023 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago.
Courtesy of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation

Dan Mulka, Executive Director of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation: “The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is more than just a celebration; It’s an opportunity to share the incredible stories that make our city unique. From the vibrant local cultures that come together to showcase Chicago’s rich diversity to the new memories created by artists, audience members and volunteers alike, every year we don’t just tell stories, we create them. This event is a testament to the spirit and unity of our community and we are honored to continue this tradition.”

For more information and updates on the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, visit www.chicagothanksgivingparade.com.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade sponsors include Atwood, CD One Price Cleaners, CTS Health, DUDE Wipes, HI Chicago, Iams, Jewel-Osco, Kinsale Contracting Group, All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy, Mercedes-Benz of Chicago, Ozinga, Pluto TV and Raising Cane’s, Rock 95.5, Santa’s Village, Setna iO, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Staypineapple and WorldStrides OnStage.

About the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade

The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is now in its 90th year and first took place in 1934 as a Christmas caravan. The parade is hosted by the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that ensures this treasured holiday tradition continues for Americans across the country while telling the stories of the many rich cultures and groups that that make up Chicago community. The attractions on State Street give audiences the opportunity to travel the world and embrace other traditions without leaving downtown Chicago. For more information, visit chicagothanksgivingparade.com. Follow Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.