American Idol's Haley Reinhart to appear in this year's parade!

Haley Reinhart, American Idol Season 10's 3rd place finisher and Wheeling, IL native, will appear in this year's McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.  Haley's debut album, Listen Up!, was released in May of this year.

CM Punk named Grand Marshal of 2012 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade

Hometown Hero and WWE Superstar CM Punk will be this year's Grand Marshal!  For more information about CM Punk's appearance, please view our previous post ...

http://mcdonaldsthanksgivingparade.blogspot.com/2012/11/wwe-champion-cm-punk-to-appear-at-2012.html

America's Next Top Model Jaslene Gonzalez to appear at 2012 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade

Chicago-native, Jaslene Gonzalez, will be in the 2012 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.  She is the winner of Cycle 8 of America's Next Top Model.  She has worked with Cover Girl, Liz Claiborne, and has made a number of different magazine covers.

To see everyone scheduled to appear at this year's parade, please visit chicagofestivals.org/2012-performing-groups.

The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place on Thanksgiving morning in downtown Chicago, on State Street from Congress to Randolph. You can watch LIVE on WGN or WGN America at 8am CT.

WWE Champion CM Punk to appear at the 2012 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade

Chicago's own "Best in the World" will make his second appearance at the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade in downtown Chicago. CM Punk, the current WWE Champion, has held the championship for over 344 days. He is also on the current cover of the WWE '13 video game.

To see everyone scheduled to appear at this year's parade, please visit chicagofestivals.org/2012-performing-groups.

The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place on Thanksgiving morning in downtown Chicago, on State Street from Congress to Randolph. You can watch LIVE on WGN or WGN America at 8am CT.

Photo from bleacherreport.com.

Sometimes, Teddy just likes to dance ...

From America's Got Talent, Those Funny Little People will perform at the 2012 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade

One of the zaniest acts around will be gracing the first hour of the 2012 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade! 

Those Funny Little People, based out of Willowbrook, IL, will be taking center stage in this year's McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade. They will be performing during the first hour of this year's broadcast. 

These mobile puppets combine dance, expression, and all out fun during their performances. They travel around the country to 30 states (as well as China and Puerto Rico), creating smiles on everyone's faces (with the exception of Piers Morgan, an AGT judge).

For more information on Those Funny Little People, please visit their web site at thosefunnylittlepeople.com.

For more information on the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, please visit chicagofestivals.org, facebook.com/mcdonaldsthanksgivingparade, or twitter.com/teddyturkey. The parade airs LIVE on Thanksgiving morning at 8am CST on WGN 9 Chicago and WGN America.

 

Key Ingredients of the Parade: Kristine Tague

Kristine Tague has been a volunteer with the parade since 2004.  She quickly excelled as a Block Marshal, and joined the Volunteer Leadership Board in 2008.  She is now the Volunteer Chairperson for the committee, and can be seen controlling the route every Thanksgiving morning.

• Why did you first volunteer for the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade?
  I first volunteered for the parade because I wanted to do something fun on Thanksgiving that was different and really celebrated Thanksgiving and the coming season. I think our parade is more than just a holiday parade down State Street- its a community event that brings together families of all kinds of traditions and also showcases the talents that make up this city and this nation. We aren't about all the big stars and musicians. We don't need that, we have something real. We have the kids you know from the high school band, we're that local ethnic dance group, and we're the tumbling crew that performs all over the city. It's a small town-your town- kinda parade that happens to be in Chicago. That's why I volunteered, because I wanted to be part if that.
   
• Do you have one favorite memory at the parade?
  One of my favorite memories of the parade was the first time I saw how genuinely excited the kids get when they hear the marshals mentioning that Santa's on the next block.

• What do you do at the conclusion of the parade?
  As a marshal, we generally pride ourselves on being "Santa security" at the end of the parade when we block off the final block of the parade. Once the big jolly old man passes by and we get the all clear, I hurry and check out of the parade before heading off to one of 3 family Thanksgiving celebrations.

• What do you do for a living?
  For a living I am a graphic designer and PR coordinator for a hospice as well as a nonprofit that grants wishes to adult hospice patients. I am also an artist and filmmaker.

• Any advice for first time volunteers?
  The best advice I can give to first-time volunteers is to enjoy whatever you're doing- each volunteer position is part of this grander event and is crucial to the parade going smoothly. It's like one giant theatre production with lots of animals and children. Have fun, dress in layers, and enjoy the experience of being part of a live parade!