Thousands of spectators clad in puffer jackets, scarves and blankets chose to spend Thanksgiving morning lining State Street in the Loop in freezing temperatures.Over several hours, about 100 acts and performers marched from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street in a showcase of cultures from around the world.“It's really cool how we can bring the world to Chicago right here on State Street. That's the awesome part about it," Dennis Evashenk, president of the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Foundation, said of the celebration. Members of the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids from Mobile, Alabama, participate in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. The group is composed of 50 high school seniors who take part in community activities and mentoring.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times Once the parade kicked off Thursday morning, the Loop boomed with music. From several renditions of Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration,” to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” holiday cheer helped remedy chattering teeth against winds and temperatures in the upper-20s.Lynn Whitfield, an Emmy-award winning actress featured on the two most-recent seasons of "The Chi," was on hand to celebrate the day in a silver convertible. Working on the show has given Whitfield an admiration for Chicago, and accepting the invitation to participate in the parade was a no-brainer, she said."You hear one thing in the news, but when I go to Chicago I see people who are really grounded in their tradition and in their culture," the actress said. Dubbed the second-best Thanksgiving parade by TimeOut, the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, now in its 90th year, has more of a multicultural focus than other celebrations, like New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.Ruth Correa braved the cold with a plush blanket-style hoodie. She was born in Guatemala and has lived in Chicago for the last 50 years. She started attending the parade five years ago.“It’s a good display of nationalities and cultures,” she said. Gabriela Lopez brought her family and 7-month-old Yorkie puppy, Teddy, from Whiting, Indiana, to view the parade. Lopez has been attending since 2016 and loves seeing the equestrian teams from Mexico. Baby Teddy spent much of the day nestled inside her jacket. A parade member asks the crowd cheer during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 1 of 8 People in the crowd cheer for a passing float during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 2 of 8 A Rudolph float can be seen at the rear of the parade during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 3 of 8 A young child hugs a performer in a panda suit during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 4 of 8 A performer waves a flag during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 5 of 8 Children look up at the passing floats during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 6 of 8 A parade balloon makes it way up State street during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 7 of 8 A balloon of a turkey is guided under the train tracks during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 8 of 8 “It’s a cheerful and peaceful event,” added her mother, Julia Lopez. “It gives us a wonderful opportunity to mingle with different cultures. And it’s a nice opportunity to spend a night downtown.”The Lopezes live just 45 minutes from Chicago, but plenty of attendees came from farther away.Tasha Smith, along with her husband and three children, made the five-hour drive from Dayton, Ohio, to celebrate both her daughter Peyton's 17th birthday and the holiday.“We came for her birthday,” Smith said. “We’ve never seen a big parade.”Among the variety of performers and parade participants were 19 marching bands, five equestrian teams, dancers, singers, plus floats and balloons. Performers with Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago unfurl their fans.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times “Even though some groups come every year, they're always changing their performances and showing us something new about their culture,” said Ashley Berry, a spokesperson for the parade.Some groups start making performance plans two years in advance.Australian boy band Overnight, featured on "The Voice" Australia in 2023, made their first trip to America for their Thanksgiving parade performance.Chicago fan-favorite performers like the Jesse White Tumblers and Jewel-Osco’s one-eyed mascot JoJo elicited choruses of cheers during the parade. Groups, including the Unicycling Society of America, the Windy City Ghostbusters and dancers twirling flaming batons captivated the crowd.Maureen Battista from the southwest suburbs has been attending the parade yearly for two decades. She brings whoever is willing to tag along. This time her daughter Bri Battista, 31, was along for the ride, and the two huddled up prior to the start of the parade with hats, gloves and folding chairs.“We don’t leave until it’s done,” Maureen Battista said. “It’s not done until Santa goes by.” Santa waves a people in the crowd during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 1 of 13 A drummer with Crystal Lakes Strikers Drum Line shows off his drums to children in the crowd during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 2 of 13 A performer Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago dances during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 3 of 13 A performer with Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago waves a large flag through the air during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 4 of 13 Members of the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago performs during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 5 of 13 A parade member lets kids pet a chihuahua during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 6 of 13 Members of a marching band perform during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 7 of 13 Member of The Unicycling Society of America pass by during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 8 of 13 Member of The Unicycling Society of America pass by during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 9 of 13 Member with Sterling Silver Studio perform during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 10 of 13 A parade balloon makes its way under the train tracks during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 11 of 13 A float by Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 12 of 13 Members of the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids during the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, celebrating its 90th year on State Street in the Loop, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times 13 of 13