CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago's Thanksgiving Parade is celebrating it's 89th year, and this year brought a key component that hasn't been present since 2018.
Downtown State Street was filled with thousands of people taking in one of their first doses of holiday cheer.
"Everybody wants to get the spirit back, can get out and enjoy life and have traditions- things to do with your family," one attendee told WBBM.
Marching bands from 16 different high schools and universities were there from across the country.
Another spectator said he enjoyed "seeing the band so far and their music."
"I've always loved watching and hearing the bands play," he added.
This year's parade included something special being brought back. The iconic five- story tall balloons had not been seen at the parade since 2018, due to the elevated cost of helium.
"I think it's an important part of the parade, so that is one thing that definitely people look forward to are the big balloons," a woman said.
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