CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Columbus Day parade will be returning to downtown Chicago Monday after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic and this year's theme will pay homage not only to Italian-Americans, but all immigrant groups that have contributed to America.
Ron Onesti, President of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans said that Columbus Day is a celebration of the sacrifices made by all immigrants and the group has invited descendants of immigrants from all nations to march in the parade as well.
"Monday is a celebration of all cultures-all ethnic groups," he said "We hope to walk arm in arm with all our brothers and sisters of all ethnic groups and cultures to celebrate what we have all done together and what we have all suffered together."
The Italian flag was raised at Richard J. Daley Plaza Friday. Patrick Daley Thompson, 11th Ward Alderman and grandson of former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, spoke to the contributions of all immigrants in building the city and the nation.
"My grandfather and my uncles were both very proud of how Chicago is a city with neighborhoods made up of immigrants from all over," he said.
The late Jasper B. Sanfilippo, a local businessman and philanthropist who supported Italian-American initiatives will also be honored at the parade. Onesti said his family has been invited to represent Sanfilippo in the parade.
This year's Columbus Day parade will begin around 1 p.m. on Monday at Wacker Drive and State Street and will move south on State Street to Van Buren Street.
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