Aug. 06--School isn't back yet, but the annual Bud Billiken Parade is.
The celebration kicks off at King Drive and Oakwood Boulevard at 10 a.m. Saturday, marching down King Drive, then funneling into Washington Park around 12:30 p.m.
There, the parade will host school supply giveaways and other family-friendly activities.
"This year we have new text voting, so people can text their vote in for their favorite unit in the parade," said Chez Smith, parade organizer.
At the end of the event, the parade will host an awards ceremony, crowning winners such as best float and best marching band based on those votes. Smith said the new text system is part of the parade's partnership with Smart Chicago.
Prefer to watch from home? WLS-Ch. 7 will air the event that morning. Saturday's forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high of 85 degrees, according to the National Weather Service's Chicago office.
The Bud Billiken Parade, first hosted in 1929, is the oldest and largest black parade in the U.S. and aims to bring students and families together before school starts each year. It celebrates education and diversity and gives underprivileged children a "chance to be in the limelight," according to the parade's website.
rcrosby@tribpub.com
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