An anticipated summer event since 1929, the 82nd Annual Bud Billiken Parade kicked off in downtown Chicago at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
The celebratory day of family fun and entertainment kicked off with the parade at 10 a.m. from 39th Street and Martin Luther King Drive to Washington Park. Music follows the parade at around noon in Washington Park.
This year features the addition of the Bud Billiken Gospel Festival, with Faith Howard and Delores Washinton-Green expected to pay a tribute to the late Chicago gospel legend Albertina Walker.
Other performances include Walk Whitman & Soul Children of Chicago, the Brown Sisters, the Nichols Sisters (cousin's of vocalist Jennison Hudson), the Victory Travelers, Dexter Walke & Zion Movement, Janet Sutton & the Voices of AMCE and Gospel Music.
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Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to serve as grand marshall, and R&B superstar R. Kelly will join the parade as an honorary grand marshall.
With more than 1.5 million people expected to be in attendance, the Bud Billiken parade is the largest African-American parade and the second largest parade of any kind in the U.S.
