Bud Billiken Parade

( August 8, 2012 )

What started as a back-to-school parade by Robert S. Abbott in 1929, the Bud Billiken Parade, has now become an annual family get-together, friends' reunion and day out at the park in your cute summer outfit. The parade includes floats touting celebrities (Disney's Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Princess Tiana and rapper T.I. are some of the participants), marching bands, tumblers, African dancers and more. The award-winning King College Prep Marching Band will take the lead.

Why go: Like the Taste of Chicago, Lollapalooza or Navy Pier, the oldest and largest African-American parade is one of Chicago's summer traditions that shouldn't be missed.

Reconsider: With the sweltering temps we've had this summer, you don't want to risk heatstroke dancing a happy jig at the thought of kids going back to school.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at 39th Street (Oakwood Boulevard) and King Drive and continues to Washington Park (51st Street and Cottage Grove) for a post-parade picnic; free; 773-536-3710, budbillikenparade.com