CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- New York isn't the only city that puts on a massive Thanksgiving Parade. In it's 86th year, the Chicago Thanksgiving parade stepped off State Street at Ida B. Wells Thursday morning and traveled north to Randolph.
For many lined along State Street, getting front row at the parade has become a Thanksgiving tradition.
"I make the casseroles on Tuesday, I wake up on 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving and put them in the oven. My husband and I leave at 6 a.m. and set up and pick out our spot and the whole family joins us at 8 a.m."
Meyers sets up a table for the food, brings costumes and plays a little Peanuts' Christmas music.
"We have made Thanksgiving for the last 18 years at home and we decided we wanted to see the parade in person this time," said Stenberg, who's thanking Mother Nature for cooperating this year. "It's beautiful. It's not cold, it's not rainy or snowy, it's actually fantastic."
Ninety groups including 20 marching bands, 13 floats, 16 staged theatrical performances, 11 equestrian groups, 18 cultural groups, inflatables, Teddy the Turkey and Santa Claus all made appearances.
"This is a bucket list for us," said Sheila Specht who made the trip from Braidwood with her husband.
"We have nine kids and they're all grown and we decided to come up and see the parade in person this year instead of on our television," said Randy Specht. "We usually go to one of our children's house; we'll go there later today."
This year's grand marshalls were Hamilton star Miguel Cervantes and Actor Chris Sullivan.