Chicago’s unofficial start to the holiday season will continue on Saturday night with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade, the nation’s largest nighttime parade.
The weather will be rather enjoyable this time around, in contrast to last year’s bitter cold.
While the festival itself began at 11 a.m., the much-awaited event, the parade, doesn’t get underway until 5:30 p.m. Festivities will commence when Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse step off at Oak Street and Michigan Avenue and head south, illuminating more than one million lights on 200 trees block by block, according to the event’s website.
For those planning to be in the downtown area during the festivities, whether you’ll be looking for the perfect viewing spot or trying to navigate around the parade, the route stretches from Oak Street to Illinois Street In addition, the DuSable Bridge will close as early as 3 p.m. in preparation of the parade.
When the parade gets underway, visitors will hear the tunes of bands and musical groups from across the country, including Chicago’s Leo High School Choir, which captivated the nation on “America’s Got Talent.” There will be no shortage of live performers, including from the South Shore Drill Team and musical groups such as Plain White T’s and Voices of Liberty.
And what’s a holiday celebration without Santa?
Santa will officially ring in the holidays aboard Wintrust’s Grand Finale Float, and he’ll also spend some time greeting the youngest of parade-goers and hearing their Christmas wishes.
Once the parade wraps up, the excitement won’t end right away.
The night will come to a close with the Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular over the Chicago River near the DuSable Bridge.