Lots of received into the vacation spirit Saturday as they danced to accommodate music, snagged free goodies and snapped footage with Santa — kicking off the vacation season within the metropolis.
Now in its thirty third 12 months, the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Pageant begins within the morning with household actions within the plaza. Within the night, a parade caps off the festivities, bringing floats, balloons and dwell performances by means of the streets of downtown Chicago.
“This helps us preserve Chicago on the worldwide stage, the nationwide stage, reminding of us of the good metropolis that all of us get to name residence,” mentioned Kimberly Bares, president and chief government of the Magnificent Mile Affiliation, which organized the occasion.
Bares estimated “as much as about 1 million folks” will attend the fest this 12 months.
Donna Pajak, from Brookfield, involves the competition yearly, and her household all the time appears ahead to it.
“We simply love the town. We love downtown,” Pajak mentioned. “We’re gonna be right here for the parade, for the lights, the fireworks, all the things.”
Her household introduced some colour to the group. Whereas different attendees bundled up in winter coats and scarves, Pajak took inspiration from one in all her favourite Christmas motion pictures — every member of the family wore a lime-green Grinch onesie.
“My youngsters are grouchy typically, so no higher individual to be than the Grinch,” she mentioned.
Sisters Terry Shreve and Sherry Carman, who had been among the many crowd across the cheesecake-decorating station for Eli’s Cheesecake having fun with slices, mentioned the competition is a household occasion. They explored the cubicles with seven different relations.
Carman is from Waukegan, however Shreve drove in from Wisconsin.
“It’s sort of a convention that all of us get along with whoever can come to Chicago,” Carman mentioned. “That is the enjoyable half, the week earlier than Thanksgiving.”
Jhovany Perez and his spouse, Beth Flores, introduced their 9-month-old son Levi to Pioneer Court docket. Initially from Mexico, the household just lately moved to Danville, so the competition was an opportunity to be taught in regards to the Chicago space, Perez mentioned.
“We had been … working onerous all week. Now, we would like some enjoyable,” Perez mentioned. “That is the right second to dwell life.”
Within the plaza, attendees of all ages danced alongside to accommodate music. DJ Chip E., one of many early artists of Chicago’s home music motion, carried out on stage, together with worldwide DJs.
“I like to see folks transfer,” he mentioned. “Chicago is my hometown. I’m so Chicago that my birthday is 312.”
Within the night, he will even be “rocking it out” down Michigan Avenue, he mentioned. He was set to carry out on a crimson double-decker bus throughout the parade.
“I’ve received some songs that I do know are crowd-pleasers, however I’m going to play it by ear,” DJ Chip E. mentioned. “I feed off the vitality of the group.”
The vacation parade is the biggest night parade and third largest parade within the nation, in line with Bares. It can characteristic typical appearances from Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, but additionally new floats, like a 60-foot Santa Kermit The Frog balloon.
The parade additionally features a lighting spectacle alongside Magnificent Mile. On every block, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will lead a countdown to gentle up the bushes, Bares mentioned.
“It’s one of many only a few locations that individuals can expertise the magic of Disney outdoors of Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort,” Bares mentioned.
Attendees in Pioneer Court docket appeared ahead to the parade. Pajak’s son Aaden, 7, mentioned he needed to be there when sweet will get handed out — fingers crossed for Skittles, he mentioned.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) mentioned the competition is the “spotlight of the 12 months” for downtown, the world he represents. Hopkins, who has been concerned with the competition since 1999, mentioned his 9-year outdated son Ryan is wanting ahead to the “Disney magic.”
“I’m the luckiest alderman in Chicago. No different alderman has an occasion like this, actually in his entrance yard,” Hopkins mentioned.
However planning for the competition requires intensive planning, Bares famous.
“It’s our thirty third 12 months, and as quickly as this occasion ends, we’ll begin planning for the thirty fourth,” Bares mentioned.
