Bud Billiken Parade To Return This Year After Being Canceled Due To Pandemic In 2020

CHICAGO (CBS/AP) -- One of Chicago's signature summer parades will officially return this year.

The Bud Billiken Parade and Festival will kick off back-to-school season on Saturday, Aug. 14.

Two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker, who grew up in Naperville, will serve as the grand marshal.

"Candace is seen as hometown hero to many of our city's youth and to have her lead the parade this year is just the burst of energy and excitement our students need as they prepare for their first full year back in classrooms since the beginning of the pandemic," said Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, president/CEO of the Chicago Defender Charities and Bud Billiken Parade Chair. "After having to postpone last year's festivities due to COVID-19 restrictions, I am excited to have the community come back and safely celebrate this year's festivities."

Billed as the "largest Black parade in the world," the theme for this year's Bud Billiken Parade Is "back to school, back to life, back to Bud Billiken."

Tens of thousands of spectators yearly attend the parade, in which similar numbers march down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive through Bronzeville neighborhood to Washington Park, where picnicking and a music festival takes place.

Bud Billiken is a fictional character that is considered a guardian of children was created in 1923. The parade was originally organized in 1929 by the Chicago Defender newspaper. In the past, the floats and marching bands have been accompanied by such celebrities as Spike Lee and Michael Jordan.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)