CHICAGO (WLS) — There was a festive cheer in the air Saturday evening on Michigan Avenue as huge crowds of people lined up on the parade route to usher in a new holiday season with the help of some of Disney’s favorites.

With a wave of their white gloves, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse left Michigan Avenue dazzled as the 2025 Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Parade began.

ABC7 Chicago will air a special broadcast of the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Parade at 6 p.m. Sunday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

“I’m having fun, and I’m definitely going to miss this when I go back to Dallas,” said Thuian Dang from Texas.

That’s because no place does it better than Chicago, and, like each year, people from near and far lined the downtown route to feel the holiday magic.

“I always grew up going to Disney, so this is something special to me, seeing it here,” attendee Raffen Arscott said.

From Goofy showing off his dance moves to Frozen’s Elsa keeping things cool, to ABC7 Chicago’s news team. many people were taking part in the largest evening parade in the U.S. and the third one in the country.

Santa Clause visited from the North Pole ahead of his busy delivery season, before capping the night off with the annual fireworks display.

Visit TheMagnificentMile.com for more information.

ABC7 Chicago is a proud sponsor of the event.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of this ABC station.

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