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On August 8, 2026, 97 years of outstanding marching will be celebrated with the Bud Billiken Parade in Chicago. We’d like to tell you about the history of the parade and what you can expect. Then we’ll tell you how you can save money on a visit to Chicago.
The Pasadena Rose Parade is the largest parade in America. The Bud Billiken Parade is considered to be the second largest parade. It is also the largest African-American parade in this country.
We’ll need to step back in time to its roots in the early 1900s. Robert Sengstacke Abbott was born to freed slaves in Georgia. He moved to Chicago, and in 1905, Mr. Abbott founded the Chicago Defender newspaper, still in publication today. He’s known as the “Father of Black Journalism.”
The Chicago Defender played a large role in influencing the “Promiseland”. That was the great Migration of African-Americans going from the rural south to the urban north. By 1920, Chicago’s Bronzeville had become the “Black Metropolis.” It was a hub for black business, culture and art with the influx of blacks from the south.
In the early 1900s, the Billiken was a charm doll, an embodiment of good luck and good fortune. It was regarded as the guardian of children. The “Bud Club” was a local club for young black people, established by Mr. Abbott in 1923. He expanded the “Bud” concept into The Bud Billiken Parade in 1929 to honor the hard working newsboys and Chicago’s black youth. Next. Mr. Abbott created a band for the newsboys. This band has included musical greats, like Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton.
The Bud Billiken Parade began as a locally sponsored event and is now one of major corporate presence. Today’s parade route goes on Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive which runs directly into Washington Park. It begins at 10 am and goes until noon.
Over the years, many high profile celebrities and officials have been in the parade, including Harry Truman, Oprah Winfrey, then Senator Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Mohammed Ali, Joe Louis, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Diana Ross, Lena Horne, James Brown, Mayor Richard Daley, Cab Calloway, Senator Dick Durbin, Billie Holiday, Donnie Osmond, Spike Lee, Queen Latifa, Tyler Perry, Chance the Rapper and more.
The parade will also include beauty queens, musical performers, marching bands, community organizations, tumbling teams, motorcyclists, costumed characters, drill teams, cheerleaders, colorful floats, dancing groups and so much more.
In 2006, more than 26 million people watched the parade with 1.2 million attendees and 25 million television viewers. That parade included 74,000 participants with 160 floats and vehicles.
There is an after parade festival in Washington Park, from noon until 4 pm. It features food, beverages and merchandise vendors, hiring fairs and more. Both the parade and festival are free.
The Bud Billiken Parade is so much more than marching bands and floats. It commemorates the past and celebrates what’s ahead. “The Bud” unites the South Side of Chicago in music, dance and food and praises the historic roots of that part of the Windy City. While praising history, the parade is also filled with youthful enthusiasm. “The Bud” has inspired generations in this country
The parade and festival are presented by the Chicago Defense Charities. Currently, this is run by the fourth generation of the founder’s family. And education remains a mission of the Charities with the continuation of the clarion call of “Back to School” in the parade. It also has annual scholarship awards of more than $100,000.
So enjoy a fabulous parade and festival. Eat, drink and connect with others! And celebrate another year of the Chicago Defender’s pursuit of the advancement of Chicago’s African-American youth!
If you’d like to go to Chicago for the Bud Billiken Parade and festival, you should consider these hotels. They are all offering discounted rates which can save you money on your stay.
If you’ll be flying to Chicago, you can use a promo code to save money on your flight.
And for other ways to save on a trip to Chicago, check out our Chicago Budget Travel Guide.
Sources
Per Bud Billiken Parade, ChiDC, Choose Chicago and Wikipedia