Press Release

The 79th Annual Bud Billiken Day parade will celebrate students and the community

The goal of the annual parade is to increase the number of students enrolled in school and in attendance on that first day.

Parents, mark your calendars. CPS is kicking off the 2008-2009 school year at the 79th annual Bud Billiken Day Parade.

The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on August 9, 2008, at Oakwood Boulevard and King Drive. The parade begins between 39th and 40th Street, and ends at Washington Park at 55th and Ellsworth Drive.

This year’s annual celebration will feature several members of the CPS family. Here’s what you can look forward to seeing and doing at the parade:

10 CPS bands will perform.
Special CPS T-shirts will be given away.
CPS’ float, which starts the parade, will feature special guests.
Administrators and participants from the Real Men Read program will walk behind the CPS float.
A special picnic will take place after the parade at Washington Park.

The goal of the annual parade is to increase the number of students enrolled in school and in attendance on that first day. CPS hopes the parade gets the community excited and informed about the upcoming school year. To prepare parents, CPS will have a tent in Washington Park where CPS staff and nurses will be on hand to pass out enrollment and immunization information.

Senator Barack Obama is the Grand Marshal for the event.

School starts Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

For more information, visit the Bud Billiken Day Parade website .