Begin a New Tradition on Thanksgiving Morning: Watch the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on CW26!

By: WCIU Staff | November 21, 2022

The holiday season is almost here, and there's no better way to jumpstart the festivities this Thanksgiving than by watching the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade at 8A on CW26! Hosted by Jesse Hutch (Dream Wedding and CW's Batwoman, Arrow, Supernatural) and Jen Lilley (Days of Our Lives, Royally Wrapped for Christmas), this vibrant procession down Chicago's legendary State Street features floats, bands, and special performers from across Chicagoland and the nation. Of course, no holiday celebration like this is complete until the appearance of Jolly Old St. Nick himself...Santa Claus!

Check out the full parade lineup below and tune in to the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade 2022 beginning at 8A-11A LIVE only on CW26. 

Sponsored by Ankin Law and Lightkeeper Pro

Honored Guests

• - Miss Illinois 2022, Monica Nia-Jones
• - Miss Illinois's Outstanding Teen, Mia Fritsch-Anderson
• - Host, Jen Lilley
• - Host, Jesse Hutch
• - Santa Claus

Marching Bands

• - Bishop Noll Institute - Hammond, Indiana
• - Bloom Township High School - Chicago Heights, Illinois
• - Cross Keys High School - Atlanta, Georgia
• - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School - Stonecrest, Georgia
• - Heights High School - Houston, Texas
• - Hephzibah High School - Hephzibah, Georgia
• - Kankakee High School - Kankakee, Illinois
• - Kipp East Academy - New Orleans, Louisana
• - LaGrange High School - Lake Charles, Louisana
• - Lake Zurich High School - Lake Zurich, Illinois
• - Marist High School - Chicago, Illinois
• - New Manchester High School - Douglasville, Georgia
• - Northwest High School - Cedar Hill, Missouri
• - Sequoyah High School - Canton, Georgia
• - Southern Boone County High School - Ashland, Missouri
• - Southland College Prep Charter High School - Richton Park, Illinois
• - Southwest DeKalb High School - Decatur, Georgia
• - Thornwood High School - South Holland, Illinois
• - University of Dayton - Dayton, Ohio

Specialty Units

• - 501st Legion Midwest Garrison - Chicago, Illinois
• - Aztec Dance - Xochitl-Quetzal - Chicago, Illinois
• - Ballet Folklorico Yolotzin - East Chicago, Indiana
• - Bloom Township High School Choir - Chicago Heights, Illinois
• - Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team - Chicago, Illinois
• - Chicago Spirit Brigade - Chicago, Illinois
• - Cirque Experience - Chicago, Illinois
• - Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline - Crystal Lake, Illinois
• - Heartbeat Music & Performing Arts Academy - San Diego, California
• - Jesse White Tumbling Team - Chicago, Illinois
• - Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago - Skokie, Illinois
• - Michigan City Soul Steppers Drill Team - Michigan City, Indiana
• - Mobile Azalea Trail Maids - Saraland, Alabama
• - NASCAR
• - Ozinga - Mokena, Illinois
• - Pro Dance Elite Studios - Algonquin, Illinois
• - Renacer Boliviano - Chicago, Illinois
• - Royal Royal - Cincinnati, Ohio
• - Sensational Prancerettes Dance Company - Longview, Texas
• - Sterling Silver Studio - Superior, Wisconsin
• - St. Paul Winter Carnival Royalty & Vulcan Krewe - Farmington, Minnesota
• - Team Shockwave - Frankfort, Illinois
• - The Barefoot Hawaiian - Prospect Heights, Illinois
• - Thistle and Heather Highland Dancers - Downers Grove, Illinois
• - Unicycling Society of America, Inc. - Garden City, Michigan
• - Windy City Ghostbusters - Lockport, Illinois

Equestrians 

• - American Sidesaddle Association - Aurora, Illinois
• - Bertrand's Miniature Horses - Watseka, Illinois
• - Escaramuza las Monarcas - Joliet, Illinois
• - Herder Holiday Horses - Frankfort, Illinois
• - Ray of Hope Riders - Lowell, Indiana
• - Soul Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program - Barrington, Illinois

Floats

• - Canadian Pacific - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• - Casa de la Cultura Guatemalteca en Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
• - Chicago Chinese Culture & Arts Society - Chicago, Illinois
• - Krewe of Europa - Bradenton, Flordia
• - Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association - Chicago, Illinois
• - Punjabi Cultural Society - Wayne, Illinois
• - Santa's Village - East Dundee, Illinois
• - Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
• - Wu Zhi Lin Performing Arts Association - Bolingbrook, Illinois

Staged Performances

• - American Blues Theater - Chicago, Illinois
• - Ballet Folklorico Sones Mexicanos - Maywood, Illinois
• - Chicago Korean Dance Company - Wheeling, Illinois
• - Cirque Experience - Chicago, Illinois
• - Country Artist Donnie Lee Strickland - Perryville, Arkansas
• - Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline - Crystal Lake, Illinois
• - Danza Azteca Xochitl-Quetzal - Chicago, Illinois
• - Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago - Skokie, Illinois
• - Huaxing Arts Group - Naperville, Illinois
• - Music Theater Works - Wilmette, Illinois
• - Renacer Boliviano - Chicago, Illinois