CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The nation’s largest and longest-running African American parade turned 90 Saturday as thousands turned out on the South Side on a beautiful day to kick off the start of the school year.
Actor Lil Rel Howery served as Grand Marshal, and BJ The Chicago Kid and Che “Rhymefest” Smith served as honorary marshalls. The parade was expected to draw 1.2 million viewers this year.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaking at #BUD90 VIP Breakfast pic.twitter.com/XjHgJHzg3h
— Bud Billiken Parade (@BudParade)
August 10, 2019 It kicked off at Oakwood Boulevard and King Drive and continueed for two miles south on King Drive to 51st Street through Washington Park to Garfield Boulevard. It lasted until 2:30 p.m., giving supporters plenty of time to see it. Best options: The Green Line stations at 43rd, 47th and 51st streets. For the Red Line, get off at the 47th Street stop and take the No. 47 bus east to Prairie Avenue.
You can find the
parade route at the event's website.
WBBM also kept readers apprised of all road closures:Street closures for the #BudBillikenParade are in place & will kickoff at 10 am.King Dr between 35th St & Garfield is closed until 2 pm. Consider State St or Lake Shore Drive as an alternate to avoid the closure. @WBBMNewsradio #ChicagoTraffic pic.twitter.com/1i4YxRWXdh
— Traffic and Weather together on the 8s (@WBBM780Traffic)
August 10, 2019 ABC7 carried it live. WBBM's Terry Keshner was live at the scene.
Bud Billiken Parade about to roll. @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/mjlTzIOzxP
— Terry Keshner (@tk9710)
August 10, 2019 The parade is designed to rally Chicago's kids ahead of the school year. The Bud Billiken foundation has awarded $25,000 in scholarships this year, and has donated 100,000 school supplies to Chicago's public schools. And in case you're asking: Bud Billiken is not a real person. According to the foundation, the name stems from the Bud club, a social club for black youth that Robert Abbott, the Chicago Defender's founder, set up in 1923. Its mascot was Bud the Billiken, which represented a "protector" of the children. From there, Abbott morphed the concept to the parade, which debuted in 1929.
